The Environment Agency has announced £11 million for this year's beach nourishment scheme along the Lincolnshire coast. But is it enough to keep communities safe? Lincolnshire World spoke to LCC Coun Colin Davie.
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00:00The Environment Agency's annual beach nourishment scheme begins in May, with this year £11 million being spent on keeping our community safe.
00:11But is this enough? We spoke to Lincolnshire County Council's Colin Davey.
00:17The Environment Agency have been to our Economy and Environment Scrutiny Committee at Lincolnshire County Council.
00:24They've presented their view on how the sea defences are. Quite clearly a shocking report.
00:31Some of the defences only have a few years left in them. The whole coastline is at threat.
00:38According to the Agency, they need about £330 million in very short order to actually shore up the defences.
00:50And then they are going to need, after 2040, to spend at least another probably £850 to £1.2 billion on making the coastline safe for the future.
01:05It's vitally important we get that surety and that the sea defences are going to be maintained.
01:11It's going to be the single biggest issue for the coastal communities after the local elections in May.
01:17I'm very clear, as is our candidate for Mayor, Rob Waltham, that this is the single biggest issue that faces the coastline.
01:26If we can't get funding from national government, and they are not indicating positively that they are going to get funding,
01:35so we are going to have a battle, an uphill battle I suspect, with the Labour government over this matter.
01:44Then we are going to have to consider what I would say are some pretty horrible options for the coast.
01:51We have maintained over the last 20 years what's called our hold the line scenario,
01:58which is improve what we've got and make sure the water doesn't come through or over the current defences.
02:07The beach nourishment programme, which has been maintaining the sand profile of the beach, is only going to be good for a few more years.
02:15So we've got to start making decisions in very short order if we are going to have that security of the coast in terms of the sea defences after 2035 and onwards.
02:29You will know how government does not move quickly in making big decisions, and when they do, they manage to waste a lot of money in that process.
02:38For me, as a kid walking on these beaches, I've always recognised the power of the ocean, the power of the sea.
02:48We've perhaps forgotten to some extent the dangers that the sea poses towards us.
02:58A lot of people say it's climate change. We do know sea level rise is real.
03:03We do know the intensity of storms is becoming much more ferocious.
03:09So on that basis, we have to do everything we possibly can in making sure our communities are safe and protected in the future.
03:17We're going to need communities, all communities, to have what's called local resilient plans.
03:22They're going to need emergency evaporation plans.
03:25They're going to have to prepare for the worst-case scenario while we do everything we can to ensure that that worst-case scenario never happens.
03:33And that's going to mean partnership working in Lincolnshire.
03:38But it's also going to mean that the MPs, particularly those on the coastal communities, are going to have to have a plan on how they're going to get this government,
03:48and none of them are members of this government, how they're going to extract money from government to protect our coastal communities.
03:56I've not heard anyone making that argument, other than Victoria Atkins, about what needs to be done.
04:03So all MPs are going to need to come together because this is an issue that will wipe away their constituencies if they're not careful.
04:12I'm very clear it's a big challenge. It's something that's going to need shoulder to the wheel in May onwards, after the election's out of the way.
04:23And it's going to need a real focus about how we get everyone to work together to make that case to Treasury.
04:30Because ultimately Treasury will be the decision-maker on whether Lincolnshire has the current coastline or something different in the future.
04:41Do you think enough is being done to protect our coastline? We'd love to hear your comments, so do get in touch on our Facebook page.