Dorset Coast
Dorset Coast Case
Study
Land Use, Conflicts
and Solutions
Aims
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Describe how the physical environment creates
opportunities for economic and social land use.
Identify the land users in and around Lulworth
Cove.
Identify land use conflicts between users at
Lulworth Cove.
Identify how the conflicts have been resolved.
Assess their effectiveness.
The Physical Landscape
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Some rocks, especially the Portland Stone,
are very resistant to erosion.
The weaker sands and clays, such as the
Oxford Clay, are easily eroded and can
retreat over one metre annually.
Because of this differential erosion, the
Dorset coast is characterised by many
headlands and bays, with beaches of sand
or pebbles.
The Dorset Coast a Landscape
of Bays and Headlands
Old Harry Rocks
Effects of the sea upon the the
coast are especially well
illustrated at Ballard Down.
 Here, well-developed stacks,
arches and caves have formed.
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Old Harry Rocks
Opportunities for Land use
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The Dorset Coast from Lyme Regis in the west to Highcliffe in
the east.
The coastline is not only stunningly beautiful but also displays
geological sections of world importance.
It boasts both a rich diversity of wildlife and marine
archaeological finds and a flourishing coastal economy
World Heritage Site Bid Document
An ideal opportunity to study the impact of changes in the tertiary sector.
Opportunities for Land Users
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Tourism and Recreation.
Environmentalists - Area
of Outstanding Natural
Beauty (AONB)
National Trust
South West Coast Path
National Trail.
The M.O.D
Fisheries and Harbours.
Farmers.
Local Landowners.
Local residents.
Restrictions imposed by the
physical environment
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Landslides.
Coastal erosion puts
property at risk.
Coastal Flooding.
Portland Bill, Christmas 2002, evidence of process and landform.
Lulworth Cove
HONEY POT
Lulworth Cove is a small
bay formed by wave
action eroding away the
soft chalky rocks that
lie behind a band of
harder limestones that
form the bay mouth.
West
Durdle DoorSouth
Coastal
Path
Pasture for Sheep
farming.
Where might conflicts arise?
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Tourism and Recreation.
Environmentalists - Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty (AONB)
National Trust
South West Coast Path National Trail.
The M.O.D
Fisheries and Harbours.
Farmers.
Local Landowners.
Local residents.
What attracts people to
Lulworth?
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It is surrounded by
outstanding scenery and
wildlife habitats.
Located on the South West
Coastal Path.
The nearby fossil forest is
an important SSSI.
The classic coastal features
are of interest to students
of geography and geology.
West Lulworth is a
picturesque village with
thatched cottages and rural
ambiance.
Lulworth Castle – partially
restored.
Lulworth Tourism Figures
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About 75 000 people visit Lulworth in a year.
35% of them come in 6 weeks during July and August.
Only 10% come during the four winter months
November to February.
95% of Lulworth’s vistors are day visitors.
Over 90% of visitors come by car or coach.
The Heritage Centre is Dorsets second most visited
tourist attraction and its most visited free
attraction.
The footpath between Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door
is the busiest 1 mile stretch of the whole 600 mile
SW Coastal Path.
Opportunities created by
Tourism
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Large numbers of visitors bring significant benefits
to a rural area which traditionally relied on fishing
and farming to sustain the economy.
Tourism provides substantial full time and seasonal
employment.
Tourism brings revenue into the local economy.
This results is greater social stability for the local
population.
Funds generated by tourism provide the Lulworth
estate with capital for investment at the Cove and
general estate improvements.
Tourists may find themselves in
conflict with the following
groups:
Local people
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The M.O.D
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Environmentalists
Possible Conflicts
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Congestion – the road to Lulworth Cove is narrow and it is a dead
end so this part of the village has to absorb all the traffic.
Noise and Litter – The traditional character of the village is
spoiled during the summer tourist months by vehicle noise and
indiscriminate litter dropping.
Inconciderate parking create access problems.
General access difficulties when roads are closed.
Restrictions which the ranges impose on walkers.
Footpath erosion – This is pariculaly obvious on the path between
Durdle Door and Lulworth.
Litter creates a visual pollution and threat to wildlife.
Visual Intrusion Durdle Door holiday park is unsightly and out of
keeping with the landscape.
Locals Comments
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“lots of holiday makers- the queues are bigger”
“Sometimes coaches park in the wrong place and
no one can get past”
“Lots of dog poo on the beach”
“lots of people have BBQ’s which can be
dangerous and start fires”
“The army range is noisy at night when tanks are
firing. I don’t like soldiers with machine guns
guarding the Army Camp”
“The gift shops are expensive – rip off”
soultion? Car Parking….
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The car park at Lulworth is surfaced in
chalk rubble but
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This stands out against the green landscape and
it creates huge amounts of dust.
Car Parking charges are high and visitors may
choose to avoid being charged by parking on
sides of roads and grass verges.
solution? MOD
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Permitting access to ranges at weekends
and busy holiday periods.
Keeping roads open during the busiest
holiday periods.
Noise levels associated with firing are
much reduced at these times.
Solution? Footpath Erosion
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Footpath maintenance – much work has
been carried out to prevent further
erosion.
This has been done by re routing paths.
Building new timber steps on the path at
Durdle Door.
The existing path has been reinforced with
local limestone cobbles and steps.
How effective?
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Resurfacing encourages more walkers.
The whiteness of the path is an unnatural
scar on the landscape.
Steps are unnatural and walkers often
choose to avoid them by walking on the
side.
Additional Environmentally friendly
policies
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Durdle Door beach is intentionally
uncommercial.
Litter bins are not provided.
Climbing on the cliffs is banned.
Fossil collection is not permitted.
There are plans to visually screen the
holiday park.
Conflict Issues
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Coastal Zone Management - Issues
The management of the coastal zone is complicated by a number of
issues, including:
The diverse ownership of coastal land intertidal areas;
A ‘hostile’ marine environment;
The number of competing activities within a relatively ‘narrow’ area;
Conflicting issues and activities i.e. economic vs. environment;
Over 80 Acts dealing with the regulation of activities in the coastal
zone;
No current legislation that explicitly addresses coastal
management;
The lack of an overview or lead agency ;
Coastal issues usually transgress political boundaries.
Coastal Zone Management in practice - Dorset: