Letter:Managing the coastline retreat

Sir: Your article on managed retreat ("Britain ruled by the waves as east coast faces 'managed retreat' ", 31 July) rightly recognised the importance of shoreline management plans. These plans provide a vehicle for strategic management of the coastline and take a much longer-term view than ever before. A period of up to a century is not uncommon and there are reviews at five-year intervals.

Managed retreat is not universally applicable however. It is unlikely to apply in more than a minority of cases and only then with a significant lead time. Instead we look at each case and propose the most applicable flood defence option in terms of cost, technical suitability and impact on the environment.

In the short term, the Environment Agency will continue to sustain sea defences to protect people and property along the coastline. We shall do this in an environmentally sensitive way by extending beaches as natural defences and as support for the hard concrete defences of our predecessors.

However, the sea is unpredictable and coastal flooding can still occur. From 1 September 1996, the Environment Agency will take the lead role for flood warning. Over a five-year period the Agency will develop an improved system to provide early warning to those at risk.

GRAINGER DAVIES

Regional General Manager

The Environment Agency -

Anglian Region, Peterborough