Opinions of the plans for Cuckmere Haven

How will the scheme affect you?

However, not all the local residents are against the plan as Grace Francis confirms stating, “We deserve to be fully protected – no-one warned us when we bought the house this would happen. I don’t know how long we will be able to stay in this property.” Grace wishes for her home to be protected and believes the restoration project will ensure that her property remains safe and will not be affected by rising sea levels and flooding. Colin King – another local resident, believes that by carrying out the restoration project, the beauty of the estuary will be ruined. He claimed, “Nearly half a million people visit the Cuckmere valley each year. They marvel at the meandering river and will be disappointed to see mudflats.”

People who feel strongly about protecting the environment are more likely to be against the scheme, as they believe it could be potentially dangerous for certain wildlife. Others, such as the Sussex Downs Conservation board, believe that the plan is a good option for protecting certain species as it involves connecting the cut-off meander back with the channel. They explained that, “the meanders do not function naturally and are gradually filling up with silt. In the summer of 2003, the hot weather resulted in the death of large numbers of flatfish, flounder and plaice because the shallow water heated up reducing the oxygen available for the fish to breathe in.”

From our questionnaire results, I can see that majority of the people asked visited Cuckmere haven for the beautiful views and scenery, which will be dramatically changed by carrying out the restoration project. David Pearce, local retired resident, supports this argument, stating that, “this is an iconic place, an essential part of Sussex’s identity. I oppose this proposal”.

Overall there are a variety of opinions on whether or not the plan will be a success; the environment agency did consider these points and due to mass dispute, the plan was delayed in 2003.