Save Lymington and Keyhaven (Slak) campaign group formed to fight Hurst Spit to Lymington Strategy proposals

SAILING clubs and local businesses are standing together in the face of “disastrous” and “hugely damaging” plans for sea defences between Hurst and Lymington.

As reported, a strategy for managing flood and coastal risk between the spit and Lymington over the next century is currently being developed by several agencies including the Environment Agency and New Forest District Council.

However, a plan to ‘roll back’ the sea wall along sections of the coast has been heavily criticised by local sailing clubs and marine organisations, which say it could cause Lymington River to become unnavigable, and severely affect local marine businesses.

Now a campaign group called Save Lymington and Keyhaven (Slak) has been formed comprising representatives from the Royal Lymington and Lymington Town sailing clubs, Keyhaven Yacht Club, Hurst Castle Sailing Club, Wightlink, Lymington RNLI, Lymington Yacht Haven, Berthon Boat Company and Lymington Marina.

Berthon Boat Company director and Slak spokesperson Dominic May said plans to realign the coastal defences in Pennington have provoked the greatest concerns.

Critics claim this proposal combined with a breach of Hurst Spit will allow south-westerly waves to roll directly towards Lymington during gales.

It’s feared the protection offered by an area called Jetty-Butts and Oxey Pennington, which sticks out into the Solent, will be lost if plans for managed realignment of the coastal defences together with salt marsh creation goes ahead.

Mr May said: “With Hurst Spit permanently breached, and with the sea wall at Jetty-Butts and Oxey-Pennington also breached, this will leave Lymington badly exposed to strong south-westerly winds and winter storms.

“We fear that this has not been taken into consideration and would cause huge harm to Lymington and the surrounding area.

“Our strong recommendation would be to ‘hold the line’ of the current sea wall and build the embankments up over time in keeping with increases in sea levels.”

It’s claimed that without the protection of the current sea wall at Jetty-Butts and Oxey-Pennington, Lymington River will “almost certainly” silt up quickly, be hit by huge waves and become unnavigable.

Campaigners say Lymington Harbour would be exposed as never before, and even the Lymington Harbour Commissioners’ breakwater scheme would be insufficient to protect the inner harbour.

Mr May warned: “The whole nature of the western Solent will be changed forever. Keyhaven River will be changed beyond all recognition, Hurst Castle will be cut off permanently from the shore.

“There will not be any place to shelter under Hurst as the swell and waves will pass over Hurst shingle bank, and Lymington Harbour as a whole will be at risk. All of the features in that area will be given up to allow the tidal waters to migrate inland and create new intertidal habitat for the birds.”

It’s said the Environment Agency has estimated the cost of raising the existing sea wall to be around £100m, while a ‘managed retreat’ option would cost closer to £280m.

Mr May added: “The more expensive option of managed retreat is now the preferred option of the Environment Agency as it unlocks central government funding through the proposed creation of new intertidal habitat.

“However, we do not believe that enough weight has been given to local marine-related employment, recognition of businesses in the town which depend of a thriving harbour, or the local amenity of sailing, motor boating, sea fishing, or simply walking your dog along the sea wall between Lymington and Keyhaven.”

“We want the architects of this grand scheme to pause and engage in meaningful consultation with the local stakeholders,” he added.

A meeting between representatives of SLAK will take place in mid-January. To find out more and comment on the draft proposals visit: hurstspit2lymington.co.uk