St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C Allerdale Borough Council Carlisle City Council Copeland Borough Council Cumbria County Council Environment Agency English Nature Railtrack Plc Solway Rural Initiative Shoreline Management Plan St Bees Head to River Sark Data Collation, Analysis, Interpretation and Objective Setting Volume III : Supporting Information November 1998 Bullen Consultants Limited St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C 96M477/2/C Contents VOLUME 3 : SUPPORTING INFORMATION 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 1.1.1 1.1.2 1.1.3 The Coast Extent of Shoreline Management Plan Coastal Responsibilities Outline Description 1 1.2 1.2.1 1.2.2 The Foreshore Foreshore Ownership Foreshore Responsibilities 1 1.3 1.3.1 Revenue Maintenance Budgets (Authorities) Current Revenue Budgets 2 1.4 1.4.1 Proposed Capital Expenditure Proposed Capital Budget 2 1.5 1.5.1 1.5.2 Expenditure by Private Frontage Owners Present expenditure Planned Future expenditure 3 1.6 1.6.1 1.6.2 1.6.3 1.6.3.1 1.6.3.2 1.6.3.3 Coastal Groups North Western Coastal Group Adjacent Coastal Group Other groups with an interest in this length of coast The Irish Sea Forum The Solway Firth Partnership Solway Rural Initiative 3 2.0 COASTAL PROCESSES 5 2.1 2.1.1 2.1.2 2.1.3 2.1.4 Historical Evolution Erosion Accretion Construction of coast protection works Construction of sea defences 5 2.2 2.2.1 2.2.2 2.2.3 Physical Characteristics Landscape Geology Geomorphology 10 2.3 2.3.1 2.3.2 2.3.3 2.3.4 Present day coastal processes Waves Tides Sediments Other present day processes 13 Bullen Consultants Limited St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 2.4 96M477/2/C 2.4.1 2.4.2 Inter-relationships with the adjacent coastline 20 Coastline to the south Coastline to the north 2.5 2.5.1 2.5.2 2.5.3 2.5.4 2.5.5 2.5.6 2.5.7 2.5.8 2.5.9 Ongoing monitoring Visual surveys Beach profiles Channel levels Wave measurements Tidal measurements River flow measurements Sediment transport measurements Weather recording Other ongoing monitoring 20 2.6 2.6.1 2.6.2 2.6.3 2.6.4 2.6.5 Effects of sea level rise and potential changes in storm characteristics Predicted sea level rise Effects of sea level rise MAFF allowance for sea level rise Potential changes in storm characteristics Effects of changes in storm characteristics 22 2.7 2.7.1 2.7.2 2.7.3 2.7.4 Predictions of future coastline evolution Predicted erosion Predicted accretion Predicted changes in river estuaries Predicted changes in navigation channels 24 2.8 References/Bibliography 26 3.0 NATURAL ENVIRONMENT 34 3.1 3.1.1 3.1.2 3.1.3 3.1.4 3.1.5 3.1.6 3.1.7 3.1.8 3.1.9 3.1.10 3.1.11 3.1.12 Conservation Interests and Designations Sites of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI) Regionally Important Geological/Geomorphological Sites (RIGS) Biological Heritage Sites National and Local Nature Reserves Marine Nature Reserves and Sensitive Marine Areas Ramsar Sites Special Protection Areas (SPA’s) Special Areas of Conservation Environmentally Sensitive Areas National Parks Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty Heritage Coast 34 3.2 3.2.1 3.2.2 Historical Evolution Natural Evolution Human interference 38 3.3 3.3.1 3.3.2 Present Constraints Legislative constraints Other constraints 39 Bullen Consultants Limited St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C 3.4 3.4.1 3.4.2 3.4.3 3.4.4 Current Trends Losses of habitats Losses of species distribution and abundance Gains of habitats Gains of species distribution and abundance 40 3.5 3.5.1 3.5.2 Predicted Future Trends Habitats Species distribution and abundance 42 3.6 3.6.1 3.6.2 3.6.3 Opportunities for environmental enhancement Reductions in pollution Increases in habitats Increases in species distribution and abundance 42 4.0 HUMAN AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT 45 4.1 4.1.1 4.1.2 Historical Evolution Growth of settlements Principle settlements 45 4.2 4.2.1 4.2.2 4.2.3 Residential/Industrial areas and infrastructure 45 Residential areas Industrial areas Infrastructure 4.3 4.3.1 4.3.2 4.3.3 4.3.4 4.3.5 4.3.5.1 4.3.5.2 4.3.5.3 4.3.6 Recreation, tourism and education Yachting and sea angling Sea bathing and water sports Beach recreation Onshore recreation Tourism Tourism areas and infrastructure Numbers of tourists Income from tourism Education 4.4 4.4.1 4.4.2 4.4.3 4.4.4 Archaeological and historic features 49 Archaeological features Historical features Scheduled Ancient Monuments Listed Buildings 4.5 4.5.1 4.5.2 4.5.3 4.5.4 Aggregate Extraction Offshore Foreshore Onshore Illegal Extraction’s 50 4.6 4.6.1 4.6.2 4.6.3 4.6.4 Present constraints Physical constraints Economic constraints Legislative constraints Other constraints 51 Bullen Consultants Limited 46 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C 5.0 DEVELOPMENT IN THE COASTAL ZONE 5.1 5.1.1 5.1.2 5.1.3 5.1.4 5.1.5 5.1.6 5.1.7 Current pattern of land use 52 Agricultural Residential Areas Tourism Commercial Industrial Open space Military 5.2 5.2.1 5.2.2 5.2.3 Commerce, ports and harbours, navigation etc. Commerce Ports and harbours Navigation 54 5.3 5.3.1 5.3.2 Agricultural and fisheries interests Agriculture Fisheries 56 5.4 5.4.1 5.4.2 Present constraints Legislation constraints Other constraints 58 5.5 5.5.1 5.5.2 5.5.3 Predicted future trends Structure Plans Local Plans Unitary Development Plans 58 5.6 5.6.1 5.6.2 5.6.3 Other relevant management plans Estuary management plans Catchment Management Plans Coastal Zone Management Plans 59 5.7 Reference/Bibliography 59 6.0 COASTAL DEFENCES 61 6.1 Coastal defence ownership and responsibility 61 The apportionment of responsibility for maintenance of the coastal defences Sea defence and coast protection responsibilities 6.1.1 6.1.2 6.2 6.2.1 6.2.2 6.2.3 6.2.4 6.2.5 Existing Defences 61 Location Condition Effectiveness Standard of service provided Surveys of existing defences 6.3 6.3.1 6.3.2 6.3.3 Current Rates of erosion and accretion Rates of coastal erosion Rates of coastline accretion Rates of beach losses/gains Bullen Consultants Limited 52 62 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C 6.4 6.4.1 6.4.2 6.4.3 Areas at risk from flooding or erosion Areas at risk from flooding Areas at risk from erosion Areas at risk from beach loss 63 6.5 Identification of other influences 63 6.6 Areas of Concern 63 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 SHORELINE MANAGEMENT PLAN OBJECTIVES AND MANAGEMENT UNITS Shoreline Management Plan Consultation and Scoping Exercise Shoreline Management Plan: Objectives Shoreline Management Plan: Management Units 67 Appendix A Appendix B Figures Tables VOLUME II APPENDICES Appendix C Appendix D Appendix E Report on Walkover survey Coastal Defence Surveys Consultation Scoping Study Response Bullen Consultants Limited St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C 1.0 Introduction 1.1 The Coast 1.1.1 Extent of Shoreline Management Plan For the purpose of this Shoreline Management Plan (SMP), the coast is defined to encompass the shoreline from St. Bees Head in the south to the mouth of the River Sark at the head of the Solway Firth, which also marks the Scottish Border. The shoreline extends into Moricambe Bay and into the Esk and Eden estuaries to the Coast Protection Act 1949 Schedule 4 Boundaries. The total length of the coast thus defined is approximately 120km and is shown in Figure 1.1. 1.1.2 Coastal Responsibilities The apportionment of responsibility for the maintenance of the coast is as detailed in Table 1.1. and Figure 1.2. 1.1.3 Outline Description The coastline may be split into two parts, south and north of Maryport. The coastline to the south is largely of an industrial nature with the towns of Whitehaven, Workington and Maryport being the main areas of industry. The industrial history of this area can however be observed in most of the many towns/villages along the coast. The west Cumbria railway line running from Barrow to Carlisle travels along the coastline between Whitehaven and Maryport. The coastline to the north of Maryport is largely rural in nature, being remote from human activities with the exception of agriculture and fishing. The principal exceptions from this statement are the towns of Allonby and Silloth. The coastline is believed to receive sediment from the west to east erosion and transportation of the glacial tills which make up the bed of the Irish Sea. The inner Solway Firth acts as a sediment sink, its peripheral sheltered areas being composed of saltmarsh while the central more exposed areas are formed of more mobile sand and mudflats. In contrast the coastal areas are generally experiencing erosion with the littoral process forcing a net northerly drift of the sand and shingle which forms the coast. In addition to the saltmarsh the exposures of glacial till cliffs along the coast are of significant environmental interest as are the extensive areas of dunes notably at Mawbray, Wolsty and the Grune. 1.2 The Foreshore 1.2.1 Foreshore Ownership The ownership details of the foreshore for part of the coast under consideration are given in Table 1.2 and Figure 1.3. Areas which have not been marked on Figure 1.3 are areas where ownership details are not available at present. 1.2.2 Foreshore Responsibilities No foreshore or beach level management schemes are in operation at present, but gravel extraction takes place at Workington Harbour and sporadic illegal extraction Bullen Consultants Limited 1 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C of sand and gravel take place at a few locations along the coast. Extraction of material from the foreshore, both legal and illegal, is dealt with in more detail in section 4.5. 1.3 Revenue Maintenance Budgets (Authorities) 1.3.1 In the current financial year (1997/1998) the Revenue Budgets for the maintenance of the coast and foreshore of the various Authorities are as follows:Allerdale Borough Council £38,000 Copeland Borough Council £17,500 Environment Agency £4,000 Railtrack North West * Carlisle City Council NIL Cumbria County Council £10,000 Other * ________ TOTAL £69,500 * NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT PRESENT 1.4 Proposed Capital Expenditure 1.4.1 Proposed programmes of Capital Expenditure in respect of the coast and foreshore of the various Authorities over the next five Financial Years (1997/1998 to 2002/2003) are as follows:Allerdale Borough Council £5,000,000 Copeland Borough Council £6,000 Environment Agency £1,011,000 Railtrack North West *1 Carlisle City Council NIL Cumbria County Council £4,000 Others * _______ TOTAL £6,021,000+ * NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT PRESENT 1(expected to be substantial) 1.5 Expenditure by Private Frontage Owners 1.5.1 Present Expenditure Bullen Consultants Limited 2 (97/98 - 98/99) (97/18) St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C No information was determined as part of this study on the present expenditure associated with private frontages. 1.5.2 Planned Future Expenditure No information was determined as part of this study on the future expenditure associated with private frontages 1.6 Coastal Groups 1.6.1 North Western Coastal Group The North Western Coastal Group is a collection of the Coast Protection Authorities whose responsibilities cover the coastline from the Solway Firth to the Ribble Estuary. Membership of the group also extends to the Environment Agency, English Nature, Port Authorities, Railtrack plc and British Nuclear Fuels all of whom have responsibilities and/or a particular interest in the coastal zone. 1.6.2 Adjacent Coastal Groups The North Western Coastal Group is only adjoined to the south. This adjacent Coastal Group is the Liverpool Bay Coastal Group whose area of interest extends from the Ribble Estuary to Great Ormes Head near Llandudno. 1.6.3 Other groups with interest in this length of coast 1.6.3.1 The Irish Sea Forum The Irish Sea Forum is an organisation which is committed to the enhancement of the environmental health of the Irish Sea, its coasts and associated estuaries and the sustainable use of its resources. The membership of the group is voluntary and is comprised of organisations and individuals with responsibilities or interests that are compatible with these aims. Membership includes most Coast Protection Authorities around the Irish Sea although it does not include the City and Borough Councils (i.e. Carlisle, Allerdale and Copeland) covering this SMP shore length. 1.6.3.2 The Solway Firth Partnership The stated aim of the Partnership is to: “develop in partnership with others a management strategy which will encourage current and future users of the Firth to set a level of social, economic and ecological development for the region that is compatible with the principles of sustainable development”. The Partnership is open to all statutory and non-statutory interest groups to become members and influence the shape of the management strategy. It is managed by a steering group which meets quarterly to review the progress and overall direction of the project. Represented on the Steering Group are all the statutory agencies with responsibilities in and around the Solway Firth Partnership area. 1.6.3.3 Solway Rural Initiative The Solway Rural Initiative is a group whose interest lies in the Solway Coast Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB’s) which lie between Maryport and the Esk Estuary. This interest extends to all aspects of coastal management including management of habitats, sea defences and saltmarsh, nature conservation and human pressure. The group regularly carries out work on the coast/shoreline, such as dune restoration, grassland re-establishment, habitat creation and car parking strategies. Bullen Consultants Limited 3 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information Bullen Consultants Limited 4 96M477/2/C St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C 2.0 Coastal Processes 2.0.1 This section describes the present day coastal processes which affect the shoreline between St. Bees Head and the River Sark, together with the historical evolution of the coastline. The future development of the shoreline is also predicted. 2.1 Historical Evolution 2.1.0.1 The assessment of the historical evolution of the coastline concentrates on the recent past, since the nineteenth century when reliable records were kept and sea levels attained approximately their present day values. The longer term formation of the coast is described in Section 2.2 2.1.0.2 Hydrographic surveys of the coastal area south of Maryport and the eastern Irish Sea have not been undertaken generally since 1840 - 1890 due presumably to the lack of significant shipping activity in the area and the stability of the sea bed particularly offshore. Figure 2.1 shows the seabed bathymetry for the eastern part of the Irish Sea compiled from available hydrographic surveys. The contours are shown in metres relative to Admiralty Chart Datum. 2.1.0.3 North of Maryport the shipping activity at Silloth and the constantly changing sandbars and channels of the Solway Firth have prompted more regular surveys. Table 2.1 lists Hydrographic Charts used to assess the major changes in the Solway since the 1830’s. Further information was obtained from the Harbour Master at Silloth, concerning the more recent development of the bars and channels south of Silloth. 2.1.0.4 Table 2.2 lists Ordnance Survey (O.S.) Map information that was accessed to gauge the evolution of the coastline. Figure 2.2 shows the areas to which the information in Table 2.2 refers. The following limitation of the data should be born in mind when examining the results of the analysis. 1) O.S. surveys only updated information on earlier map editions when significant changes were apparent. As a result either no revised sheet was produced or the revised sheet simply had the same information as presented on earlier versions. 2) Since the initial O.S. surveys the accuracy of equipment and surveying methods have improved which can contribute significant changes in the position of the coastline. 2.1.0.5 Figures 2.3 and 2.4 show the movement of the Mean High Water Mark (MHWM) as assessed from historic O.S. sheets from St. Bees Head to Grune Point. No assessment of the MHWM at locations east of Grune Point has so far been carried out since the shoreline of the inner Solway Firth is more dependent on channel positions than wave conditions. 2.1.0.6 The information on these figures must be treated with caution since all comparisons are made to the shoreline position in 1865. Erosion which is shown to have occurred (for example) between 1865 and 1971 may only have occurred between 1865 and 1898 and is therefore not necessarily an indication that erosion has taken place between 1898 and 1971. A comparison of the coastline between 1865 and 1971 and 1898 and 1971 would enable the comparison over the period 1898 to 1971 to be determined if required. Bullen Consultants Limited 5 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C 2.1.0.7 Apart from the general assessment of the coastline, observations of local changes are also summarised in the following sections. 2.1.0.8 As part of this study a brief walkover survey of the coastline was carried out. This included making photographic records, accessing relevant local knowledge and collecting historic records in order to be able to make an assessment of the coastline changes in the area and the reasons for them. A summary of the information gathered, together with the results of the detailed examination of O.S. maps and Hydrographic charts is presented in Appendix C. The following sections contain the more important observations made during this study and the conclusions drawn from them. 2.1.1 Erosion 2.1.1.1 Inspection of Figures 2.3 and 2.4 indicate that there are lengths of the coast that have experienced erosion, in particular the coast north of Maryport, south and north of Silloth Harbour and at Cunning Point. These observations are based upon the long term changes since 1960. Little data was available after 1971 and these results must therefore be treated with caution since the situation may have changed somewhat during the last 25 years. For example, it would appear from additional information gathered that the entire coastline from Maryport to Silloth has experienced erosion to some degree during recent years. Based on conditions between 1924 and the present (the most reliable estimates), the rates of movement of the MHWM are typically of the order of 0.6m/yr inland. The estimated loss of material from the coast based on these recession rates, is of the order of 2.0m 3/yr/m run. Table 2.3 shows recession rates for various lengths of the coast based on information from O.S. maps. 2.1.1.2 St. Bees Head North Erosion only seems to occur at isolated locations north of St. Bees Head, usually at points where the cliff has been cut back a little to form a small bay. These bays tend to face north west. The rate of erosion is difficult to assess, but erosion is more likely to take place in the form of cliff falls rather than continuous slow erosion. These cliff falls are most likely to occur during or after north - westerly storms, the material from them being added to the south to north littoral drift. High ground water levels as a result of high rainfall events in spoil/slag deposits on top of sandstone along the South Shore Cliffs at Whitehaven increase the risk of ground movement and deposit material on the beach. 2.1.1.3 Moss Bay This area between Harrington and Workington has accreted as a result of spoil and slag tipping from adjacent plants and the longshore drift of similar material from the south. In recent years with the reduction or stopping of the supply of such material the coast has been exposed to increased erosion causing British Steel to construct a sea wall to protect its frontage, which is now in the process of being out flanked. Although the cliff/coastline has remained relatively stationary due to their inherent strength it is believed that beach levels have dropped making the area more exposed to wave attack. 2.1.1.4 Siddick/Flimby Although this area appears fairly stable in relation to the position of the shoreline in 1865, erosion took place on quite a large scale after 1950 and may have been linked to the decrease of spoil tipping activities and the resulting reduction of longshore Bullen Consultants Limited 6 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C sediment transport. The erosion was worst at Siddick, but Flimby to the north has also been affected. Recent storms have cut back the vegetated dune area fronting the railway line and future storms may threaten the stability of the railway embankment. 2.1.1.5 Maryport Promenade The area to the north of Maryport Harbour experienced large scale erosion between 1865 and 1923. This erosion is likely to have continued until the 1930’s when a 3km concrete sea wall was constructed. Although this stopped the landward progression of the Mean High Water Mark, it has caused beach levels to fall to bedrock level in this area. This means that although erosion was still occurring after the construction of the sea wall it would not have been evident from examination of O.S. maps. 2.1.1.6 Allonby Bay Although from examining O.S. maps the shoreline in this area appears to have undergone mainly accretion, this is only in relation to the position of the Mean High Water Mark. Anecdotal evidence of significant coastline recession, particularly in the area of the Crosscanonby Saltpans, has been supported by recent surveys. Further erosion may threaten the B5300 coastal road from Maryport to Silloth. Examination of photographic evidence of the area around the Saltpans shows the grassy area between the coastal road and the foreshore to have been much wider. In the 1940’s chalets and caravans stood on the area between the Saltpans and the beach. By 1967 all of the chalets to the seaward side of the pans had been destroyed and the area between the Saltpans and the beach had disappeared. Due to a lack of information concerning this area it is difficult to accurately estimate the rate of erosion. A report from 1994 by Posford Duvivier states that “In October 1991 the Kinch was 6m from the edge of the cliff, while in December 1993 this had reduced to 3.8 metres”. During the recent survey carried out for this study the Kinch was found to be less than 0.5 metres from the edge of the cliff. The erosion in this area can thus be estimated around 1m per year, and it is likely that most of this will occur during a single extreme storm event. It is therefore a possibility that the cliffs on which the Saltpans are situated may recede to such an extent during the coming autumn and winter that the wall of the Kinch will collapse onto the foreshore. At Maryport golf course building rubble has been dumped onto the foreshore to form a protective embankment in an attempt to control erosion but the area is still liable to flooding. Intervention by Solway Rural Initiative to encourage the development of natural sand dune defences along Allonby Bay in recent years has proved ineffective in some areas due it is thought to the frequency that the dune belt is reached by the sea. 2.1.1.7 Dubmill Point This area has suffered from erosion since 1866, although the retreat of the shoreline has been halted by the construction of hard defences on the south side of the point. The erosion was due in part to the changing position of the tidal channels and sand banks as well as the exposure of the point to extreme storm conditions. At present the groynes in this area seem to be effective at trapping sediment and further erosion of the cliff line is unlikely due to the presence of the sea wall. This is as long as both structures are maintained in good condition. 2.1.1.8 Wolsty Bank to Silloth Harbour Bullen Consultants Limited 7 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C Erosion took place on a large scale to the south of Silloth Harbour between 1865 and 1898. It is difficult to find the exact reason for this erosion, but it may be due to the changing positions of the tidal flow channels in the Solway Firth following the construction of the Solway Viaduct in 1868. Since the end of the 19th Century the erosion has decreased somewhat and the area around Blitterlees Bank has experienced some accretion. Intervention by the Solway Rural Initiative has encouraged the development of the dune belt by artificial means in recent years. 2.1.1.9 Silloth Harbour to Skinburness This area of the coast has suffered erosion to some degree since 1865, reflecting the repercussions of the Silloth Dock construction in 1857. Attempts were made to halt this erosion by installing a series of groynes, but it was not until 1953, when a stepped concrete apron was constructed along the entire length of Silloth Bay, that the landward movement of the Mean High Water Mark was stopped. The sea wall was constructed seaward of the mean high water mark to gain public amenity land. This further threw the natural system away from its equilibrium condition. Beach levels have continued to fall despite a number of coast defence schemes to repair and upgrade the original defence including beach nourishment. 2.1.1.10 The Grune In general the Grune would appear to be accreting at the point in a north easterly direction, and also to some extent at the more sheltered back face, fed by deposits from Great Gutter. On the exposed north west face however areas of rapid erosion are evident, particularly in recent years. This is due to sediment being trapped by the groynes further south resulting in the sediment supply to the Grune being cut off. Between 1924 and 1972 the erosion at the neck of the Grune has been estimated at between 80 and 120 metres which results in an average erosion rate of approximately 2m per year. The erosion problem in this area is further exacerbated by the illegal extraction of gravel from the foreshore. 2.1.1.11 The Inner Solway Firth Comparison of 0.S. Maps for the Solway Firth show that the most significant areas of erosion are associated with the movement of the low water and river channels. The positions of the channels were affected after 1868 by the construction of the Solway Viaduct but seem to have stabilised since its removal in 1936. Since then the areas of erosion can mainly be found at the banks of the River Eden and between Bowness-on-Solway and Burgh Marsh. Changes in the positions of the channels are generally due to variations in river discharges. Coast defence structures have been built at Glasson Moss and Burgh Marsh to prevent this erosion. 2.1.2 Accretion 2.1.2.1 Examination of Figures 2.3 and 2.4 indicate that accretion has been experienced on the coast (MHWM) most notably either side of Whitehaven Harbour and Workington Harbour, and south of Maryport Harbour. 2.1.2.2 South of Whitehaven Accretion immediately to the south of Whitehaven Harbour seems to have slowed during the latter half of this century indicating that the shoreline may be close to reaching an equilibrium. The gabions protecting South Beach have been damaged, but this is more likely to have occurred as a result of extreme storm events than from continuous erosion. The area further south around Kells appears to be trapping sediment at a slightly higher rate possibly due to the slightly more westerly alignment of the coast or high quantities of sediment feed rising from cliff falls of slag and waste deposits located at the cliff top near (for example) the south shore cliffs at Whitehaven. Bullen Consultants Limited 8 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 2.1.2.3 96M477/2/C North of Whitehaven Harbour Accretion in this area has reduced in recent years but was quite considerable before the turn of the century. The material in this area would have been trapped as a result of north westerly storms and then prevented from travelling up the coast by the sheltering effect of Whitehaven Harbour and the more westerly alignment of the coast. 2.1.2.4 Harrington Harbour As with Whitehaven Harbour this area used to experience accretion at a much higher rate than at present. This accretion was due to slag and waste deposits being dumped on the beach by Harrington Iron Works (1857-1926) which subsequently in part was trapped by the south harbour arm. 2.1.2.5 South of Workington Harbour The area from Salterbeck to the south pier at Workington Harbour experienced large amounts of accretion before the turn of the century partly due to the trapping of sediment on the south side of the pier and partly due to vast amounts of iron slag being deposited on the foreshore. Further accretion took place after the extension of the south pier, although some erosion of the reclaimed land fronting the Iron Works took place between 1923 and 1956. Gravel extraction takes place to the south of the harbour arm in order to reduce the frequency at which the harbour channel requires dredging, but the extracted material is not returned to the littoral system and is believed to be sold commercially. 2.1.2.6 South of Maryport Harbour As with the other harbours along this coastline the accretion in this area occurred mainly before the turn of the century due to the dumping of slag and other waste product from the two local Iron Works (1868-1927) and colliery directly onto the beach. This accretion has slowed considerably in recent years, due to reduced sediment supply and gravel extraction to the point where at some times erosion has been recorded. Gravel extraction from the foreshore to the south of the south breakwater used to take place although this practice was stopped recently due to anxiety about the effect this extraction was having on the stability of the Senhouse Dock sea wall. The construction of a new groyne south of the south harbour arm has also aided the retention of beach sediment across the harbour frontage. 2.1.2.7 Dubmill Point North The area just north of Dubmill Point would appear to have experienced accretion until recently, possibly due to the alignment of the shore and the protection it offers from south westerly conditions. 2.1.2.8 Moricambe Bay The shores of Moricambe Bay have experienced extreme changes over the last 100-150 years. However, following the removal of the Solway Viaduct in 1936, the saltmarshes that line the Bay have generally accreted, especially in the region of the Bay entrance. 2.1.2.9 Inner Solway Firth Slight but steady accretion of the Saltmarshes have occurred west of the original line of the Solway Viaduct since its removal in 1936, with little accretion, apart from at Bullen Consultants Limited 9 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C Rockcliffe Marsh, taking place east of this line. The principal areas of accretion apart from at Rockcliffe Marsh are Cardurnock Flatts and Skinburness Marsh. 2.1.3 Construction of Coast Protection Works 2.1.3.1 Appendix D contains details of surveys of coast protection structures that exist along the length of coast covered by this SMP. Their condition and effectiveness are examined in Section 6.0. Figure 6.2 provides details of the type and location of these defences. 2.1.4 Construction of Sea Defences 2.1.4.1 Appendix D contains details of surveys of sea defence structures that exist along the length of coast covered by this SMP. Their condition and standard of service are examined in Section 6.0. Figure 6.2 provides details of the type and location of these defences. 2.2 Physical Characteristics 2.2.1 Landscape 2.2.1.1 The present day landscape for the length of coast under consideration is shown in Figure 5.1. 2.2.1.2 Significant areas of coastal landscape include the cliffs at St. Bees Head (which are designated as a Heritage coast), the relatively undeveloped section of coast from Maryport to the Grune (with sand dunes in the north) and the inner Solway Firth (with associated saltmarshes). In general the landscape of the coastal strip may be split into two sections, the heavily industrialised area south of Maryport and the less developed area to the north. North of Maryport the landscape value of the coast is derived not only from the unspoilt nature of the coast but also the potential views out to sea and across the Solway to Scotland. Such panoramic views are available from many places along Allonby Bay and the dune system north of Dubmill Point, but especially from the top of Swarthy Hill, above the Saltpans. The extensive dunes at Mawbray, Wolsty and Blitterlees offer natural coastal landscapes of particular value to walkers and this section of the coast forms the northern part of the Cumbria Coastal Way, which extends from Morecambe Bay in the south to the estuary of the River Esk in the north. Other natural areas such as saltmarshes and mudflats are not as interesting in a landscape sense, although they are often preferable to developed areas of coast and form an important role as wildlife habitats and conservation areas. The foreshore outside the inner Solway mainly comprises shingle, pebbles and some sand. In general the landscape of this section of coast benefits from a relative lack of development and the natural and semi-natural areas of coast provide a high landscape value enjoyed by locals and visitors to the coast. The landscape to the south of Maryport has to a great extent been industrialised and in many places hard coastal structures and slag banks exist. The foreshore consists mainly of gravel and pebbles and there is a lack of the more scenic sandy beaches. The cliffs between St. Bees Head and Harrington are less developed and provide panoramic views out to sea. Other dominant features are the ports of Whitehaven, Workington and Maryport. Bullen Consultants Limited 10 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C 2.2.1.3 A more detailed landscape description can be found in Appendix C. Information about designated landscape sites are contained in Section 3. 2.2.2 Geology Thick and complex glacial till sequences cover the Permo-Triassic bedrock along much of the coast from St. Bees Head to Whitehaven, but sections of the bedrock are exposed in some areas. At St. Bees Head pre-Permian rocks are overlain by Permian breccia followed by evaporites and then shale and Triassic sandstone. This sandstone is then covered by glacial boulder clays. The exposed sandstone cliffs running north from St. Bees Head are cut and replaced at Whitehaven by the Pow Beck alluvial deposits of mixed sands and gravel. North of Whitehaven glacial action has eroded the Triassic sandstones, exposing Carboniferous outcrops of the middle, and in some areas the lower coal measures that have given rise to the heavily industrialised area from Whitehaven to Maryport. The coal bearing strata is composed of successive layers of coal, shale, sandstone bands and grey mudstone of varying thickness, all heavily faulted. A geological faultline running southwest-northeast at Maryport separates the Carboniferous rock to the south from younger Triassic rock in the north. To the north of the fault the bedrock consists of St. Bees Sandstone up to Dubmill Point where it is replaced by younger mudstone sediment consisting of Stanwix Shales unconformably overlying Kirkland Sandstone. The bedrock in this area is again covered by glacial till, although a short strip of St. Bees Sandstone can be seen at the coast around Maryport. At the head of the Solway Firth, faulting has upthrown the St. Bees Sandstone against younger Kirkland Sandstone with the course of the River Esk following the boundary between the St. Bees Sandstone and the Annan/Dumfries Sandstone. The chief mechanisms responsible for the present arrangement of coastal sediments were the successive ice ages bringing in broken rocks and clays from the Lake District and Scotland. These were then overlaid by various deposits carried over as a result of rising sea levels due to the retreat of the ice sheets. This cycle was repeated several times and the series of transgression and regression combined with the upward tilt of the north of England after the last ice age is responsible for the formation of raised beaches which can be found along most of this coastline. The littoral zone varies from the exposed sandstone strata between St. Bees and Whitehaven and at Maryport, to muds, silts sands, shingle and rounded pebbles. This material appears to be made of materials of solid geology, drift geology and marine sediments brought in from the Solway Firth and the Irish Sea. Mining operations over the last few centuries, and the associated disposal of slag and colliery waste have resulted in significant local changes to the coastline. 2.2.3 Geomorphology 2.2.3.1 The evolution of the coastline covered by this SMP has been in response to the interaction of sea level and exposure conditions with the geology of the area. The following sub-sections describe the general historical geomorphology of the coast before concentrating on particular features. 2.2.3.2 Over the last interglacial period, 132 - 120 ka bp (1000 years before present) the global eustatic sea levels have fluctuated up to approximately 125m below present levels (Pinter & Gardner 1989), see Figure 2.5. The maximum average rate of change can be estimated at 6mm/year. Bullen Consultants Limited 11 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 2.2.3.3 96M477/2/C During the same period ice sheets have advanced and retreated over the North Irish Sea area causing two effects:1) The isostatic movement of the land mass 2) The movement and deposition of glacial sediments in the area. Conditions over the northern Irish Sea during the last ice age were largely periglacial. However, a great ice sheet covered the area during the last 30ka estimated to be up to 1.6km thick. 2.2.3.4 The combined eustatic and isostatic effects have been assessed by a number of people (Boulton 1990, Lambeck 1991, Wingfield 1992 and Thomas 1985). Globally the sea level relative to the land was 125m below present levels some 20 ka bp. Sea level then rose during the intervening period and peaked at a magnitude estimated to be between 130m and 140m above present levels for this area of the Irish Sea. Sea levels then fell over the last 10ka to their present levels. Figure 2.6 shows the estimated variation proposed by Wingfield (1992). Given the glacial geology of the area and the large movements that have occurred in sea level over many years features, both submerged or significantly above present sea levels will have been formed by morphological processes. 2.2.3.5 Raised Beaches The phenomenon of raised beaches can be observed in many places along this coastline. At Mawbray Banks near Beckfoot a low cliff in soft materials stretches north east for 200 - 300m above the High water Mark. A cross section above the present sea level shows the position and nature of raised beaches formed when the sea level was “25 feet” above the present sea level. Swarthy Hill near Allonby is a NE-SW tending drumlin with its west slopes eroded by the sea when it was at the “25 feet” Raised Beach level. A further example of the raised beach can be seen backing the promenade at Maryport. 2.2.3.6 Submerged Forest An exposure of forest soil, containing peat and recognisable organic fragments, resting on what is believed to be an ancient beach can be found near Beckfoot. The exposure is most extensive in stormy weather, but is normally 50-100m long and trends NE-SW. It lies 120m seaward of the high water mark in an area of rapidly changing substrata. This feature is the most extensive and commonly exposed submerged forest on the north Cumbrian coast and is carbon dated to circa 8000 BC. It indicates climate improvement at a post glacial time of low sea level. 2.2.3.7 Saltmarshes Saltmarshes have developed as the result of the deposition of muddy sediments of fluvial and marine origin in the upper reaches of the Solway Firth and Morecambe Bay. These deposits and those of much earlier times are progressively reworked by the continual movement of the estuarine channels. 2.2.3.8 Littoral Drift The mobile sand and gravel/shingle deposits found along the coast are moved in response to wave and tidal current forcing. As will be described in greater detail in Bullen Consultants Limited 12 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C Section 2.3, the general littoral drift at present time is from South to North. Sediments over the beach however respond differently, those deposits below low water are most likely to respond as predicted by mean conditions. Deposits located higher up the beach may only be reached by the most extreme tide conditions and will thus respond as dictated by those individual events. 2.3 Present Day Coastal Processes 2.3.1 Waves 2.3.1.1 Introduction Wave data was analysed for two different Meteorological (MET) Office, UK wave model locations the most relevant of which is located at the mouth of the Solway Firth off St. Bees Head. The location of each offshore wave data point is shown in Figure 2.7. 2.3.1.2 Analysis of Meteorological Office Data Analysis of the data shows that the majority of the offshore waves occur in the south to west quadrant. Waves from this direction are the only waves that will have significant wave activity on the stretch of coast from St. Bees Head to the River Sark. This coincides with the largest waves which are generated over fetches reaching out to the Atlantic Ocean. Results for location point 54.5oN 4.1oW are presented in Table 2.5, and show the extreme wave height predictions based on a Weibul analysis for the ‘best fit’ and the upper and lower 95% confidence limits. This analysis was based on eight years of data from 1988 - 1996. Comparison of the wave rose distributions with typical wind roses for this area, Figure 2.8, indicates the sheltering effect of the Isle of Man from waves from the south to west quadrant. 2.3.1.3 Inshore extreme wave heights The annual extreme significant wave heights for this stretch of coast are presented in Figure 2.9. The effect of the seabed contours and depth limited conditions results in annual extreme wave heights at Chart Datum 25-45% smaller than offshore conditions. The sheltering effect of St. Bees Head results in smaller annual extremes in the lee of St. Bees Head of about 4.25m to about 4.7m just north of Whitehaven. From this point until Allonby Bay annual extremes are fairly constant at about 4.7 - 4.8m, apart from a sharp reduction to about 3.5m just north of Maryport at the start of Allonby Bay. The sharp reduction of extreme annual wave heights north of Allonby Bay to about 3.8 - 3.9m will mainly be as a result of the sheltering effect of Southern Scotland to waves from the west. 2.3.1.4 Mean Wave Height and Direction Figure 2.10 shows the mean wave height and direction from St. Bees Head to the start of Moricambe Bay. Mean Wave Heights show a reduction from about 1.0 1.2m at St. Bees Head to about 0.4 - 0.5m at Moricambe Bay. The dominance of offshore waves from the south west results in a mean wave attack direction acting up the coast. 2.3.2 Tides 2.3.2.1 Tidal Currents Bullen Consultants Limited 13 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C The coastline of this SMP is exposed to semi-diurnal tides, which flood broadly in a northerly direction along the coast and ebb in the opposite direction. The tidal currents for the Irish Sea are shown in Figures 2.11a and 2.11b and for the North Channel in Figures 2.12a and 2.12b. The flood tide is generally directed at 050ON along the coast lasting approximately 5½ hours with a peak velocity of 0.5 m/s on spring tides off St. Bees Head, increasing to 2.0 m/s off Dubmill Point. The ebb tide is in the reverse direction, 230ON approximately and lasts for about 6½ hours with a peak velocity of 0.5 m/s off St. Bees Head, increasing to 1.8 m/s off Dubmill Point. Bullen Consultants Limited 14 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C The Solway Firth In the Solway Firth the spring tide flood lasts for approximately 5 hours at Silloth, with a range of approximately 8 metres, but decreases with distance into the Firth and at Redkirk only lasts for approximately 2 hours with a range of about 4 metres. Similarly the spring tide ebb decreases from approximately 7 hours at Silloth to 6 hours at Redkirk, with the remainder of the tidal periods at Redkirk being slack water. Off Dubmill point the flood tide achieves a mean flow rate of 1.0m/s with a mean ebb flow rate of 0.9m/s. During neap tides the tide periods for Silloth are approximately the same as for Springs (i.e. 7 hours ebb, 5 hours flood) but the range is reduced to approximately 3 metres. At Redkirk the effects of the tide are minimal during neaps, both the floods and ebbs lasting approximately 1 hour, the rest of the tidal period being slack water. The range at Redkirk during neaps is only about 0.5m. 2.3.2.2 Residual Tidal Currents The residual tidal currents for the Irish Sea are shown in Figures 2.13 and 2.14 for the near surface and near bed flows respectively. These figures are based on field measurements using seabed and near surface drifters and velocity-depth profiles, Ramster and Hill (1969). Comparison of Figure 2.13 with residual surface flows determined from analysis of Admiralty diamonds from chart Numbers 1346 and 1826 for the eastern Irish Sea and the Solway Firth shown in Figure 2.15 indicate some inconsistencies. The tidal flood in and out of the Solway Firth mainly follows an east-west route to the north of the Isle of Man and sustained residual currents at the Sea Bed have been estimated at 0.015 to 0.05m/s in an easterly direction (Perkins et al, 1964). Recent information on near-bed currents at Silloth and Annan indicate that the flood tide exhibits higher velocities than the ebb, the maximum recorded flood and ebb velocities being 2 m/s and 1.5 m/s respectively, (Arup 1993), creating greater opportunity for sediment transport during the flood tide and hence sediment transport into the estuary. This is confirmed by current measurements taken at incremental depths within the water column, allowing comparison to be made between near-bed and near-surface currents taken at the same time. These results show that in the mouth of the River Annan currents were stronger near the bed and very weak at the surface during the flood tide, but on the ebb the situation was reversed, (Arup 1993), implying landward transport of suspended sediment and density effects. 2.3.2.3 Tidal Amplitude Sites where sea level measurements are taken exist at Whitehaven, Workington and Silloth. Some data was also obtained from CRG report F70-01-90 for sites at Newbie Glasson and Redkirk Point. The variation of typical and extreme sea level estimates are shown in Figures 2.16a and 2.16b. Table 2.4 provides details of the source of the extreme sea level predictions. Figure 2.17a shows the estimated variation of spring tide amplitude in the Irish Sea. Figure 2.17b shows the predicted 1 in 50 year meteorological surge for the same area. Bullen Consultants Limited 15 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 2.3.3 Sediments 2.3.3.1 Offshore Sediments 96M477/2/C The North East Irish Sea is the site of the East Irish Sea and the Solway Firth Basins, the two are separated by a narrow ridge of older sedimentary rocks which stretch between the Lake District and the Isle of Man. Figure 2.20 illustrates the composition and distribution of sea bed sediments in the North East Irish Sea, with particular reference to the Solway Firth Basin. The Solway Firth Basin, occupies a northeast - southwest syncline which is infilled largely with Permo - Triassic sediments and is less well known than the intensively investigated East Irish Sea basin. The Carboniferous rocks within the area are many kilometres thick and hold a great deal of interest for further investigation due to their hydrocarbon content. The primary and major source of sediment in the region is thought to be derived from glacigenic material deposited in the Irish Sea by the retreating Scottish ice sheet. This ice sheet along with others flowing from surrounding hills, resulted in the deposition of a complex sequence of sediments on the sea floor. The sandbanks in the Solway have mobile superficial deposits with much denser more compact sand core which were laid down in pre-glacial times during periods of lower sea levels Figure 2.20 shows that the sea bed material is very varied. It consists of fine to medium sand and sandy muds overlying tills, fluvio-glacial and glacio-marine sediments. Such extensive areas, covered by fluvio-glacial sands and gravel are thought to be the major source for the accumulation of material on the sandbars and flats within the region. A south-west to north-east orientated channel seems to be present off Allonby Bay. The grading of material in this channel, i.e. coarse at the south-west end becoming finer to the north-east, would indicate the influence of stronger currents associated with the presence of a flood channel resulting in little inshore-offshore movement of material in this region. 2.3.3.2 Foreshore Sediments Smaller volumes of sediment, in contrast to the glacigenic fraction, enter the system via rivers and coastal erosion. To the north of the region, seaward Saltmarshes are actively eroded, this material is moved upstream and deposited near the head of the Solway Firth Estuary. At more exposed sites, past marine deposits laid down in the form of raised beaches are also actively eroded, resulting in fine sands, silts and clays as well as gravel entering the system. The 100 metre cliffs between St. Bees and Whitehaven are susceptible to rockfalls which release significant quantities of shingle. This eroded material is then transported along the coast with the locally southwest to northeast drift and serves to feed the coastline further north with sediment. The distribution of foreshore sediments within the region can be seen in figure 2.21. To the south of Maryport the foreshore sediments are predominantly pebbles and cobbles with occasional areas of boulders. North of Maryport, the composition becomes finer with sand and shingle occasionally interspersed with gravel stretching up to Moricambe Bay. When looking at the sediments of this region, it must also be recognised that unnatural aspects of the environment are present and will have an effect. From the mid 19th Century the Industrial Revolution changed the nature of West Cumberland Bullen Consultants Limited 16 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C out of all recognition. Many thousands of tons of iron and steelworks slag together with colliery waste had been tipped directly into the sea or on the foreshore, contributing to the amount of material available to be deposited or eroded as beach sediment. Although the tipping of waste ceased around the mid 20th Century, the effects of this practise and of its decline will be long felt by the environment, and still needs consideration when studying associated processes. A more detailed description of the foreshore sediments and areas of industrial slag deposits can be found in the report contained in Appendix C. 2.3.3.3 Solway Estuary Sediments In 1991, bed grab-sampling was carried out near Annan and Bowness and from the deeper main channels in the Solway Firth. The results from the collected samples within the study area indicate that the bed material is almost entirely composed of fine sand. This gets progressively coarser in the outer firth and in the deeper water off Silloth and Maryport (Arup, 1993). Visual analysis of all 50 samples is summarised in Figure 2.22. These results compare favourably with observations made by Babtie (1966) for the upper part of the estuary, in which it was reported that sand throughout this part of the estuary was “of the same fine consistency to a remarkably uniform degree”. On the salt marshes and intertidal sand flats, sediments are predominantly fine to coarse sands. Very little fluvial sediment is likely to reach the estuary due to the fact that the rivers flow slowly over very shallow gradients for several kilometres before entering the firth. The slightly higher proportions of clay than silt found in the salt marshes relates to the low capacity of these rivers to carry coarser sediments in suspension. Deposition in the nearshore zone via flocculation is encouraged by the strong salinity gradients present. The salt marsh sediments show very little variation in composition throughout the inner estuary. This suggests that most of the fine sand is of the same marine origin rather than of fluvial origin. 2.3.3.4 Coastal Scars Along the length of the coast north of Maryport there are a number of coastal scars which are the relic remains of glacial till deposits. Due to the level of wave and tide exposure these remnants are composed of coarse gravel, cobbles and boulders. Particular prominent features include Dubmill Scar, Stinking Crag, Lowhagstock Scar, Beck Scar, Catherinehole Scar and Lee Scar. Within Moricambe Bay and the Solway Firth Estuary, scars which are more resistant to erosion, often influence the extent to which channels may move. Examples of such scars are Stenor Scar, Tickhill Scar, Longdyke Scar, Highwest Scar and Herdhill Scar. The contrast between these more resistant scars and the less stable surrounding muds, plays an important part in the shaping of the estuary. 2.3.4 Other Present Day processes 2.3.4.1 Offshore Sediment Transport The Solway Firth acts as a sink for sediment transported both westward and northwards into the area. The magnitude of the supply is dependent upon storm as well as average tidal conditions. Fine material (i.e. general sands and muds) are transported northward from south of St. Bees Head whereas more coarse sandy material is washed into the estuary from the west, see Figures 2.14, 2.15 and 2.20. Bullen Consultants Limited 17 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C A need exists to confirm the broad sediment transport pathways within the eastern Irish Sea and to quantify the magnitude and likely location where such sediment is brought into the nearshore zone. A numerical sediment transport modelling study perhaps for the whole of the eastern Irish Sea is considered the best means of achieving this. 2.3.4.2 Nearshore Littoral Sediment Transport The movement of nearshore sediment by incident wave activity has been examined using the predicted nearshore wave climate detailed in Section 2.3.1 together with typical beach sediment characteristics described in Section 2.3.3 The calculations are based upon the CERC formula, Shore Protection Manual (1984), which accounts for beach slope and incident wave angle relative to the beach normal in addition to wave and sediment characteristics. The resultant predictions of longshore drift rate are of potential annual average sediment longshore transport and take no account of whether that volume of sediment is available for transport or not. Figure 2.23 shows the net annual average drift rate and direction for the exposed coast based on annual average wave conditions. However, this should be treated qualitatively for the following reasons: The bathymetry from which the beach slope and inshore wave direction is determined is based on coarse and dated hydrographic soundings taken about 20 years ago from Admiralty Charts. At Whitehaven, the predicted longshore sediment transport rate gives a similar figure to known dredging rates at the port in its heyday in the early to mid part of the 20th century. Only a single size sediment grading has been adopted, d50 = 0.240mm which although considered representative of the lower beach will not be appropriate for the coarser shingle deposits closer to the coastline. The predictions have taken account of varying tide levels but do not include for any influence of tidal currents which are likely to enhance and smooth the rate of sediment transport. When examining Figure 2.23 the positive values indicate a northerly drift. The principal points that can be drawn from the analysis are as follows: The trend is for a northerly drift of material along the whole stretch of coast from St. Bees Head to River Sark. This is considered likely due to the orientation of the coast and the predominance of waves from the south-west quadrant. The relatively small amounts of drift immediately south of St. Bees Head and in the north of Allonby Bay are as a result of the south-west orientation of the coast at those locations being more perpendicular to the incident predominant wave direction. The relatively large amounts of drift along the stretch of coastline from St. Bees Head to Workington results from the relatively large wave heights and their obliqueness to this stretch of coast (see Figure 2.10) Immediately beyond Workington, the waves align themselves more perpendicularly with the coast due to shallow water effects and the sheltering effect of the Scottish coast. This results in a general fall in sediment transport from Workington to the start of Allonby Bay just north of Maryport. Bullen Consultants Limited 18 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C With material available, this analysis would indicate the main areas of erosion being immediately north and south of St. Bees Head, south of Workington and south of Silloth, with large areas of deposition occurring between Workington and Flimby and between Silloth and Moricambe Bay. Smaller rates of deposition occur between Flimby and Dubmill Point. However, the largest areas of deposition in this area is around Cardurnock Flatts and at the entrance of Moricambe Bay, predictions for which this analysis could not determine. It is considered that a more detailed evaluation of the nearshore sediment transport budget and the related consequences for the foreshore in terms of beach dynamics, coastal flood and erosion risk and the significance of sediment trapping or extraction should be undertaken. 2.3.4.3 Interdependence of extreme sea levels and wave conditions. Extreme sea level events are associated with a depression tracking east - northeast across the north of the British Isles, shown for the northwest coast of Britain in Figure 2.25. Such depression tracks yield westerly to south westerly winds with corresponding wave conditions the severity of which will depend on the depth of the depression and the speed at which it is tracking across the area. Figures 2.26 and 2.27 shows the magnitude and direction of wind for times of extreme sea level at Liverpool and at Whitehaven respectively. From both these figures the extreme sea levels are generally associated on average with westerly to south westerly wind conditions of 5 to 25 knots severity and an average of about 16 knots. Based on the above information it can be concluded that extreme sea levels will be associated with westerly to south-westerly winds and consequently significant wave activity given the extensive fetch in this direction. The worst conditions experienced along this coast are generally associated with westerly storm conditions particularly after a prolonged period of south westerly winds. Such conditions arise from a depression which remains positioned to the west prior to moving away to the north east. This mechanism has the effect of building higher water levels in the north part of the Irish Sea which enable large waves to attack the coast when the wind direction veers to westerly. Contemporary wave and sea level data for this length of coast is limited. The nearest Meteorological office wave data point is off St. Bees Head and sea level records are available at Whitehaven, Workington and Silloth, of which only Workington provided regular hourly or more frequent measurements. Without establishing a numerical model for the estuary which enables a contemporary time series of wave and sea level conditions to be established at appropriate locations such conditions cannot be adequately quantified. The proposed modelling should account both for swell waves from the Irish Sea and local wind waves generated within the Solway Firth together with the impact of tidal banks and tidal currents upon the refraction pattern. 2.4 Inter-relationship with the adjacent coastline 2.4.1 Coastline to the South At St. Bees Head a notable parting occurs in the tidal flow regime and hence the littoral movement. Material is unlikely to pass St. Bees Head in a southerly direction as it is trapped by the headland and used to sustain beach levels along the coastline between St. Bees Head and Whitehaven. Similarly, little material is thought to pass the headland in a northerly direction as material carried north to St. Bees is more likely to be deflected into the Irish Sea. Bullen Consultants Limited 19 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C No effects are therefore considered to occur to the coastline north of St. Bees Head as a result of changes to the coastline to the south of the headland and vice versa. Each length of coast can be considered as acting independently. 2.4.2 Coastline to the North The northern point of this SMP coastline lies at the head of the Solway Firth Estuary. The northern coastline of the Solway Firth will experience similar processes as the southern shore, with both being more exposed to south westerly storm conditions and the movement of the ebb tidal channels. Some of the sediments found within the Firth are thought to have been moved along the south coast of Scotland from areas such as Sandyhills Bay and any changes in the coastal processes within these area are therefore likely to have some effect (albeit limited) on the shoreline of this SMP, although this may be restricted to the areas east of Grune Point. It would therefore be unreasonable to try to separate the southern shore of the Solway Firth from that in the north when considering the coastal processes which take place in this region. For this reason the Solway Firth has generally been treated as a whole during the course of this study, although only the effects within this SMP boundary have been reported. 2.5 Ongoing Monitoring The following sections detail different monitoring exercises that are performed along the coast included in this SMP. By monitoring it is meant a regular programme of inspection or measurement of the coast or coastal structures rather than ad hoc exercises. 2.5.1 Visual Surveys 2.5.1.1 The Solway Rural Initiative carries out regular inspections of the foreshore between Maryport and Grune Point. In Summer 1994 they installed 17 sections of telegraph posts at 1km intervals along the coastline between Maryport and Silloth. These are used as markers for fixed point photographs during April and September each year. Solway Rural Initiative have also carried out a walkover survey of the entire coastline between Maryport Golf Club and Grune Point and this survey will be repeated on an annual basis. Further photographic records are kept by the Allonby and Crosscanonby Councils, specifically regarding the condition of the foreshore at the Saltpans. 2.5.2 Beach Profiles 2.5.2.1 No regular or ongoing monitoring of Beach Profiles using topographical surveying techniques is performed along the coast. Some beach profiles were taken at the Saltpans near Allonby by Posford Duvivier in March 1994 as part of the report on coast protection for the Saltpans. Allerdale Borough Council have also taken such measurements at Skinburness Bank, The Grune and Moss Bay in the past over a number of years but this work has since stopped. A visual survey is carried out by the Solway Rural Initiative on a twice annual basis and photographic records are taken. 2.5.3 Channel Levels 2.5.3.1 At Workington Harbour surveys of the harbour channel are carried out on a regular basis by the harbour authorities. However, these surveys do not generally extend past the boundary of the harbour and this information is therefore only of limited use. Bullen Consultants Limited 20 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C 2.5.3.2 A survey of the banks and channels around the approach channel to Silloth Harbour is carried out by the harbour master on an annual basis. This survey usually takes place on a low spring tide during May/June and a record of the positions of relevant sandbanks and shallows are made. 2.5.3.3 The channels within the Solway Firth are not generally charted on a regular basis due to the lack of shipping activity within the estuary. Information on Hydrographic charts available for this study is given in Table 2.1. 2.5.4 Wave Measurements 2.5.4.1 No wave measurements are regularly taken along the coast or offshore. 2.5.5 Tidal Measurements 2.5.5.1 Tidal or sea level measurements are made at Silloth, Workington and Whitehaven and to the south of St. Bees Head at Barrow and Heysham. The accuracy of measurement varies from site to site ranging from reading off a tide board to a fully instrumented class A tide gauge at Heysham and Workington. 2.5.6 River Flow Measurement 2.5.6.1 The Environment Agency monitor flow on some main rivers which discharge to the sea along the length of coast covered by this SMP. 2.5.7 Sediment Transport Measurements 2.5.7.1 No sediment transport measurements are regularly made along the coastline covered by this SMP. Bullen Consultants Limited 21 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C 2.5.8 Weather Recording 2.5.8.1 Weather recording has been undertaken at the following sites. Measurements include wind speed and direction, precipitation, temperature, pressure etc. The sites are:St. Bees Eskmeals (MOD) Sellafield Chapelcross Point of Ayr (Isle of Man) An increase in available data would not only assist in the assessment of the effects of various weather conditions on the coastline but would also increase the possibility for accurate predictions of extreme events. Further sites for weather monitoring, particularly on the English side of the Solway Firth would therefore be of benefit. 2.5.9 Other Ongoing Monitoring 2.5.9.1 British Nuclear Fuels Limited, Sellafield British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL) monitor the coastline and offshore for contamination levels arising from the discharge of nuclear waste. Figure 2.28 indicates the location and nature of their sampling in the marine environment. It is understood that BNFL also collect a variety of meteorological and sea data as part of monitoring its operations. The nature of these measurements however have not been confirmed by BNFL nor made available as part of this assessment of the coastline. 2.5.9.2 North West Water Ltd (NWW) NWW undertake regular monitoring of water quality along the coast in association with their effluent outfalls. The locations and nature of regular monitoring points are shown in Figure 2.29. 2.6 Effects of sea level rise and potential changes in storm characteristics 2.6.1 Predicted Sea Level Rise The change in sea level relative to the land arises from two principal sources namely: • eustatic sea level changes due to the melting of land based ice caps and the expansion of sea water as it warms or the melting of sea ice • isostatic rebound arising from the retreat of the last ice cap covering the land or the land adjacent to it Other effects which affect relative levels locally can arise from such factors as seismic activity and mining subsidence. Figure 2.30 shows the estimated rate of change in land levels relative to the sea, Shennan (1989). Examination of sea level records for the Irish Sea, see Table 2.6, indicate that the typical mean sea level rise is approximately 2.0mm/year. Consideration of annual sea level maxima records however indicate rates of increase somewhat greater than for the mean sea level values (see Table 2.7). This discrepancy indicates that in addition to the increase in mean sea levels the variation about the mean sea level value is also increasing. Bullen Consultants Limited 22 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C Future sea level rise is considered likely to accelerate as a result of global warming effects increasing the rate of ice cap melt and expansion of ocean waters. At present the acceleration of sea level rise is assessed at 0.4mm/year/century from existing long duration records for European waters. Global warming is predicted to increase the rate of acceleration in sea level rise some fourfold. Figure 2.31 shows the IPCC prediction, Houghton (1990), estimating a 660mm rise in sea level by 2100 as a best estimate. Confirmation of such a sea level response to global warming will only be evident from examination of sea level records by about 2010 to 2015. 2.6.2 Effects of Sea Level Rise The effects of sea level rise when taken in consideration with other maritime and atmospheric phenomena will have potentially significant effects on the coastline. The number of areas prone to flooding will increase and the severity and frequency of flood events of flood prone areas will increase. The standard of protection afforded by coast defence schemes will thus reduce with time. In respect of the physical process at the coast the rate of coastal recession would be expected, at least initially, to increase upon that presently experienced as the coastline will be reached more frequently and for longer duration’s by the sea enabling larger waves to attack the coast. Within estuaries intertidal banks near the mouth would be anticipated to be eroded and the released material swept further into the estuary. Areas of salt marsh are also likely to experience erosion along their front faces due to the greater exposure. The above assessment is however a conservative prediction for the future and fails to account for the behaviour of the coastal system to the increased amounts of sediment that will be transported in the near shore zone, accreting in estuaries and along the coast : a time logged response of the coastal system to increased energy levels which progress towards a new dynamic equilibrium. 2.6.3 MAFF Allowance for Sea Level Rise 2.6.3.1 For the design and assessment of sea defence and coast protection schemes MAFF have adopted different allowances for sea level rises around the coast of England and Wales. The appropriate rate for the Cumbrian coast covered by this SMP is 4mm/year. This figure is a sea level rise relative to the land and accounts for both eustatic and isostatic changes. 2.6.4 Potential Changes in Storm Characteristics 2.6.4.1 For the British Isles generally there are conflicting views concerning future climate conditions pertaining to storms. Modelling of the global climate around the British Isles simulating atmospheric conditions resulting from increases in the 'green-house' gases, show the proportion of westerly winds to reduce and no clear indication of whether it will be more or less stormy in the future. Conditions in the North Atlantic are however predicted to show a slight increase in mean wind speeds and a slight increase in the proportion of westerly winds. 2.6.4.2 For the Irish Sea the Global Climate Model (GCM) has the nearest grid point over Wales. Future conditions here are predicted to have increased north easterly winds at the expense of westerly and south westerly. This would imply a reduction in the number of waves from the south and more from the north although the magnitude of extreme waves may remain unaltered. 2.6.4.3 More intense and more frequent depressions are predicted to be a feature of the future climate over the North West European continental shelf which would produce larger and more frequent tidal surges. Such changes will also bring more intense wave activity. Bullen Consultants Limited 23 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C 2.6.5 Effects of Changes in Storm Characteristics 2.6.5.1 Firstly, the largest wave heights may be increased. Since the design of many maritime or coastal structures depends on the height of the waves expected to occur, for example, once in 50 years, then an increase in the expected value of this statistic would necessitate at least a re-analysis of coastal defences. Structures such as breakwaters in deep water, protected by concrete armour blocks, may be particularly at risk. 2.6.5.2 Beaches respond to changing wave conditions by altering their shape, with winter storms typically drawing material seaward from the top of the beach and summer waves restoring it. It can take weeks or months for a sandy beach to recover from a single storm, particularly if dunes behind it have been eroded. If winter waves become more frequent (but not necessarily larger) then this annual cycle may be disrupted. This is more of a danger if vegetation is a factor in restoring upper beach levels (for example on saltmarshes or on dunes) when the rate at which the plants can grow is limited by climatic conditions. In passing, the vigour of such coastal vegetation may also be affected by changes in temperature, rainfall and the like. 2.6.5.3 A change in the frequency of occurrence of modest wave heights could also produce problems at the coast by affecting the movement of sediment along a beach or the nearshore seabed. On many coasts it is the frequency and direction of waves with significant heights in the range of 0.5 to 1.5m which dominates alongshore sediment transport. Since many coastal erosion problems, along natural or artificially defended shorelines, are caused by alongshore drift (or more accurately variations in that drift from point to point) an increase in such moderate waves may be of greater concern than an increase in extreme events. 2.6.5.4 Finally, in the discussion of changes in the coastal wave regime, it is important to mention direction. As wind fields change, it is likely that their direction as well as their strength and frequency will alter. A minor change in mean nearshore wave direction will produce often major changes in the rate, and sometimes in the direction of the net annual alongshore drift. This effect is of particular concern for the length of coast covered by this SMP. Due to the alignment of the coast to the mean prevailing condition reversal of alongshore/littoral drift may occur. Present day conditions produce a general northerly drift which if reversed would create major problems along the coast. The future evolution of the coast would thus see greatest changes at what are now down drift locations as the supply of sediment to maintain its present equilibrium is reduced or prevented altogether. 2.7 Predictions of Future Coastline Evolution 2.7.0.1 The following sub-sections are limited to a qualitative assessment due to the lack of detailed information available for this study for the length of coast under consideration. Only limited data is available to quantify changes that have occurred in the coastline given its largely remote nature against which only sparse records of tide, wind, wave and sediment transport data etc. exists. 2.7.1 Predicted Erosion 2.7.1.1 The whole of the exposed coastline, from St. Bees Head to Moricambe is anticipated to continue to erode albeit at different rates. 2.7.1.2 Where unprotected the coastline will retreat inland with the beach profile and sediment make up remaining similar to conditions at the present time. In response to increased wave energy the beach may become flatter if the existing sediment is Bullen Consultants Limited 24 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C retained or remain at its present slope or steeper if the finer sediment fractions are washed out, for example at the Grune. 2.7.1.3 Where the coastline is protected the beach will progressively become both steeper and composed of the coarser fraction of sediment. The finer sediment will either be lost offshore and eventually moved into the estuaries or transported along shore to adjacent calmer locations, as in 2.7.1.2., for example at Moricambe Bay. 2.7.1.4 The exact forms of the foreshore/shoreline in the future will ultimately depend on the combination of storm events that are experienced over time and the interaction between adjacent lengths. Should the predicted change in the predominant wave direction be to one more northerly, then: the coast as a whole would on average be subject to less wave activity due to the increased sheltering effect of the Isle of Man and the Scottish Coast combined with shorter fetches to Ireland. The predominant littoral drift direction would change in magnitude. 2.7.1.5 Figures 2.32 and 2.33 show the locations along the coastline that are considered likely to experience a retreat of the coast inland and the erosion of foreshore respectively. The assessment is based upon what is known of the coastline evolution to date and the assumption that the West Cumbrian railway line is not relocated inland. Likely rates at which the coastline may retreat, based upon the assessment described in Section 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3, are shown in Table 2.8. 2.7.2 Predicted Accretion 2.7.2.1 Areas of accretion are much harder to evaluate than those of erosion as they depend upon identifying areas that experience conditions that are supplied with sediment. The principal areas of shoreline that are likely to accrete are at the head of the estuaries. 2.7.2.2 The manner in which this accretion occurs will be dependent upon the rate of sea level rise and the ability of an area to trap sediment. Saltmarsh can accrete vertically at up to 100mm/year under optimum conditions but is unlikely to achieve this uniformly over the extent of existing marsh. Thus it would be anticipated that some of the marsh vegetation would be drowned out and the area revert to sand or mud flat. The aerial extent of the saltmarsh would in most cases reduce as the landward limit is defined by sea defence embankments in most instances unless a retreat policy was adopted. 2.7.2.3 Figure 2.32 and 2.33 shows the areas where accretion is considered likely at the coastline or on the foreshore. It is worth noting that as described in 2.7.1.2. it could arise that an area of foreshore may be accreting yet the coastline receding. 2.7.3 Predicted Changes in River Estuaries 2.7.3.1 As described in Section 2.7.2 the upper part of the estuaries are anticipated to accrete in the future. The locations at which this becomes most evident are hard to predict and will vary with the natural dynamics of the estuary e.g. the movement of the tidal channels. Generally however accretion will occur at the edges of the estuaries. 2.7.3.2 Towards the estuary mouth the intertidal banks will alter in response to increased wave activity. Their size and shape will depend on supply and nature of sediment in combination with channel movements and the magnitude of wave activity. It is considered they will reduce in extent at least initially and a greater amount of wave activity will reach the coast in the outer estuaries, causing currently stable coasts to start eroding. Bullen Consultants Limited 25 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C 2.7.4 Predicted Changes in Navigation Channels 2.7.4.1 The approach channel to Silloth is the only recognised navigation channel along this stretch of coast. Although the sandbars and minor channels around it are subject to occasional changes the navigation channel itself seems fairly stable. Due to greater wave exposure the channel may become more mobile in the future and greater effort would need to be expended to ensure a safe route for navigation. 2.7.4.2 The other channels into the Solway Firth are already mobile to such an extent that navigation is difficult and are likely to become more mobile still if wave exposure increases. In contrast the erosion of the outer sand bars will result in deep water extending further into the estuary. 2.8 References/Bibliography Alexander M. 1994. Management and Planning Recommendations for The Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, The Countryside Management System Support Unit. Allerdale Borough Council. 1997a. Allerdale Local Plan. Allerdale Borough Council. 1997b. Allerdale Local Plan, Proposals Map and Insets. Allerdale Borough Council. 1997c. Allerdale Local Plan, Written Statement. Allerdale District Council. Undated. Maryport Harbour Development Plan. Associated British Ports. Undated. The Port of Silloth. Associated British Ports. 1991. Wind data available from Silloth Airfield between 19491956. Associated British Ports. 1987. Maintenance Dredging Bed Investigation, Research note number R647, December 1987. Associated British Ports. 1991. Silloth Coastal Study, Executive Summary and Main Report, Report commissioned by ABP Barrow and Silloth. Aston S.R. and Stanners D.A. 1979. The determination of estuarine sedimentation rates by 134Cs/137Cs and other artificial radionuclide profiles, Estuarine and Coastal Marine Science, Academic Press Inc. (London) Limited, Volume 9, pp 529-541. Aston S.R. and Stanners D.A. 1981. Americium in intertidal sediments from the coastal environs of Windscale, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Pergamon Press Limited, Volume 12, Number 5, pp 149-153. Babtie, Shaw and Morton. 1966. Solway Barrage Water Supply Scheme Desk Study, Report commissioned by Scottish Development Department. London HMSO. Babtie, Shaw and Morton. 1989. Preliminary appraisal of Coastal Requirements, Report commissioned by Dumfries and Galloway Regional Council. Barne J.H., Robson C.F., Kaznowska S.S., Doody J.P. and Davidson N.C. 1996. Coasts and seas of the United Kingdom. Region 13 Northern Irish Sea Colwyn Bay to Stranraer, including the Isle of Man, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Bullen Consultants Limited 26 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C Black D.L., Hansom J.D. and Comber D.P.M. 1994. Estuaries Management Plans Coastal Processes and Conservation Solway Firth, Coastal Research Group, Department of Geography and Topographic Science, University of Glasgow. Boulton G.S. 1990. Sedimentary and sea level changes during glacial cycles and their control on glacimarine facies architecture. In Doweswell J.A. and Scourse J.D. (ed.), Glacimarine environments: Processes and Sediments. Geological Society Special Publication. Volume 53, pp 15-52. Bowyer P. and Robinson I. 1988. Negative storm surges in the Irish Sea, A study of factors affecting their performance, Department of Oceanography, Southampton University, September 1988. British Marine Aggregate Producers Association. 1995. Aggregates from the sea. Why Dredge?. British Maritime Technology. 1987. Morecambe extreme sea levels. Report for Lancaster City Council. Bullen and Partners. 1992. An Investigation into Tidal Flooding at Parton, Copeland Borough Council, April 1992. Bullen and Partners. 1993. North Quay and Tongue Pier Maryport Exposure Conditions, Preliminary Report, Allerdale District Council, Report Number DH/93M119/002/B. Bullen and Partners. 1994. Letter Report on Interviews and Surveys at Maryport, Information to supplement report DH/93M119/002/B. Bullen Consultants. 1995. Harrington Harbour and North Shore Structural Condition and Performance Report, Borough of Allerdale, Report 95M304/1/B, May 1995. Bullen Consultants. 1997. Shoreline Management Plan St. Bees Head to Earnse Point, Isle of Walney, Stage 1: Data Collation, Analysis, Interpretation and Objective Setting, Volume 1. Main Report. Bullen Consultants. 1997. Shoreline Management Plan St. Bees Head to Earnse Point, Isle of Walney, Stage 1: Data Collation, Analysis, Interpretation and Objective Setting, Volume 2. Appendices. Carlisle City Council. 1995. Carlisle District Local Plan - Deposit Version. Carlisle City Council. 1996. Carlisle District Local Plan, Inspectors Report. Carlisle City Council. 1997. Carlisle District Local Plan, Proposed Modifications. Carr A.P. and Blackley M.W.L. 1987. Further data on elevational changes and water circulation in a Cumbrian salt marsh, Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Volume 24, pp 127-139. Collins P., Horton W and Worthington M. 1995. An Archaeological Evaluation of, and Production of a Management Plan for the Crosscanonby Saltpans, Cumbria, Report for Allerdale Borough Council, The Ironbridge Institute, Research Paper Number 97. Copeland Borough Council. Undated. Copeland Local Plan - Deposit Version. Copeland Borough Council. Undated. Copeland Local Plan - Deposit Version, Appendices. Copeland Borough Council. 1995. Copeland Local Plan, Inspectors Report. Bullen Consultants Limited 27 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C Copeland Borough Council. 1996a. Copeland Local Plan, Retained Policies in Modified Form. Copeland Borough Council. 1996b. Copeland Local Plan, Proposed Modifications. Cumberland County Council. Undated. North Cumberland Coast - Coastal Development and Conservation Report. Cumbria County Council. 1995. Cumbria and Lake District Joint Structure Plan. Cumbria Tourist Board. 1997. The Regional Tourism Strategy for Cumbria. Draper L. 1967. Wave Activity at the Sea Bed around North Western Europe, Marine Geology, Elsevier Publishing Company, Amsterdam, Volume 5, pp 133-140. English Nature. Undated. Undated. A strategy for natterjack toad (Bufo Calamita) Conservation in Cumbria. Garner R.J., Howells H. and Wix L.F.U. 1964. Environmental monitoring associated with the discharge of low activity radioactive waste from Windscale works to the Irish Sea, Health Physics, Volume 10, pp 353-362. Hamilton E.I. 1980. Concentration and distribution of uranium in Mytilus edulis and associated materials, Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., Volume 2, pp 61-73. Hamilton Oil Company Ltd. Undated. The coast of North Wales and North West England - an environmental appraisal. Hetherington J.A. and Jefferies D.F. 1974. The distribution of some fission product radionuclides in sea and estuarine sediments, Netherlands Journal of Sea Research, Volume 8, pp 319-338. Hetherington J.A. 1976. The behaviour of plutonium nuclides in the Irish Sea, Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Environmental Toxicity, Editor: Miller M.W. and Stannard J.N., University of Rochester, Ann Arbor Science, Michigan. Horill A.D. 1983. Concentrations and spatial distributions of radioactivity in an ungrazed saltmarsh, Ecological aspects of radionuclide release, Editor: Bell J.N.B. and Roberts T.M., Oxford, Blackwell, pp 199-215. Horill A.D. 1984. Radionuclide levels and distribution in grazed saltmarsh in West Cumbria, Environmental Pollution (Series B) - Chemical and Physical, Editor: Mellanby K., Elsevier Applied Science, London, Volume 8, pp 265-280. Howarth M.J. 1990. Atlas of tidal elevations and currents around the British Isles, Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory. Howells H. 1966. Discharges of low activity radioactive effluent from the Windscale works into the Irish Sea, Disposal of radioactive wastes into seas, oceans and surface waters, International Atomic Energy Agency Symposium, Vienna, pp 769-785. Hunt G.J. 1983. Radioactivity in surface and coastal waters of the British Isles 1981, Aquatic Environment Monitoring Report, Number 9, Lowestoft. Hydraulics Research Limited. 1984. Workington to Maryport, Cumbria, Report on a visit to assess coastal erosion problems. Report Number EX 1206. Hydraulics Research Limited. 1990. Maryport Harbour, A preliminary assessment of Proposed Developments, Report Number EX 2235. Bullen Consultants Limited 28 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C Hydrographic Office. Admiralty Chart Number 1346. Hydrographic Office. Admiralty Chart Number 1826. Hydrographic Office. 1996. Admiralty Tide Tables. Hydrographic Office. 1997. Admiralty Tide Tables. Irish Sea Forum. 1990. An Environmental Review, Nature Conservation, Part 1, 404pp. Irish Sea Forum. 1990. An Environmental Review, Waste Inputs and Pollution, Part 2, 165pp. Irish Sea Forum. 1990. An Environmental Review, Exploitable Living Resources, Part 3, 212pp. Irish Sea Forum. 1990. An Environmental Review, Planning Development and Management, Part 4, 198pp. Irish Sea Forum Seminar Report. 1992. Seminar 1, Global Warming and Climatic Change, University of Liverpool. Irish Sea Forum Seminar Report. 1992. Seminar 2 Viruses in the Marine Environment. Irish Sea Forum Seminar Report. 1993. Seminar 3 Irish Sea Databases. Irish Sea Forum Seminar Report. 1993. Seminar 4 Rising Sea Level and Coastal Defence, Ulster Museum, Belfast. Irish Sea Forum Seminar Report. Seminar 5 Managing Marine Fisheries: A Case Study of the Irish Sea. Irish Sea Forum Seminar Report. Seminar 6 Oil and Gas Exploitation in the Irish Sea. Irish Sea Forum Seminar Report. Seminar 7 Shipping Hazards. Irish Sea Forum Seminar Report. Seminar 8 Control of Fishing Effort. Irish Sea Forum Seminar Report. Seminar 9 Coastal Zone Planning. Irish Sea Forum Seminar Report. Seminar 10 Eutrophication. Jefferies D.F. 1968. Fission-product radionuclides in sediments from the North-East Irish Sea, Helgolander Wissenschaftliche Meeresuntersuchungen, Volume 17, pp 280290. Lambeck K. 1991. Glacial rebound and sea-level change in the British Isles. Terra Nova. Volume 3. Pp 379-389. Lewis and Duvivier. 1976. Coastal Survey, Report for Allerdale District Council. Linsley G.S. 1984. An assessment of the radiation exposure of members of the public in West Cumbria as a result of the discharges from B.N.F.L., Sellafield, National Radiological Protection Board, Didcot. Longley H. and Templeton W.L. 1965. Marine environment monitoring in the vicinity of Windscale, Radiological monitoring of the environment, Editors: Godbold B.C. and Jones J.K., Pergamon Press, Oxford, pp 219-247. Lovell J.E. Undated. Harrington Harbour Cumbria, Westmoreland Gazette. Bullen Consultants Limited 29 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C Lowton R.J., Martin J.H. and Talbot J.W. 1966. Dilution, dispersion and sedimentation in some British estuaries, Disposal of radioactive wastes into seas, oceans and surface waters, International Atomic Energy Agency Symposium, Vienna, pp 189-206. Luders K. 1939. Sediments of the North Sea, Recent Marine Sediments, A symposium, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Tulso, Oklahoma, U.S.A. 322. Marshall J.R. 1962. The morphology of the upper Solway salt marshes, Scottish Geographical Magazine, Volume 78, pp 81-99. Meade R. Landward transport of bottom sediments in estuaries of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, Volume 39, pp 222-234. Metaocean Consultancy Ltd. Undated. North West Water Coastal Investigation, Coastal Modelling System Terms of Reference. Document Number 373. Met Office. 1968. Tables of surface wind speed and direction over the United Kingdom, London, HMSO. Met Office. Wave Height, Direction and Period data, 1988 to 1996, Met Office Data Point 54.50N 004.10W. Met Office. Wave Height, Direction and Period data, 1988 to 1996, Met Office Data Point 54.25N 003.66W. Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food. Undated (a). Shoreline Management Plans, A guide for Coastal Defence Authorities. Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food. Undated (b). Environment Matters Environmentally Sensitive Areas. Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food. Undated (c). Coastal Defence and the Environment, A strategic guide for Managers and Decision Makers in the National Rivers Authority and other bodies with coastal responsibilities. Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food. Undated (d). Coastal Defence and the Environment, A guide to good Practice. Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food. 1971. Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales, Sheet 82, Keswick. Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food. 1994. Coast Protection Survey of England, Survey Report for Allerdale District Council. Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food. 1995. The Coastal Fisheries of England and Wales, Part III: A review of their status 1992-1994, Fisheries Research Technical Report Number 100, Directorate of Fisheries Research, Lowestoft. National Engineering Research Council. 1992. United Kingdom Digital Marine Atlas, Version 2.0., (NERC/BODC, Birkenhead). National Rivers Authority. 1991. Flimby and Parton Sea Defences Project Promoter's Briefing/Solution Note. Ordnance Survey. 1860. 1:2500 First Series. Ordnance Survey. 1899. 1:2500 Second Series. Bullen Consultants Limited 30 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C Ordnance Survey. 1924. 1:2500 Third Series. Ordnance Survey. 1975. 1:10,000. Ordnance Survey. 1:25,000 Pathfinder Series Number 547. Ordnance Survey. 1:25,000 Pathfinder Series Number 556. Ordnance Survey. 1:25,000 Pathfinder Series Number 557. Ordnance Survey. 1:25,000 Pathfinder Series Number 566. Ordnance Survey. 1:25,000 Pathfinder Series Number 575. Ordnance Survey. 1:25,000 Pathfinder Series Number 583. Ordnance Survey. 1:25,000 Pathfinder Series Number 593. Ove Arup and Partners. 1993. Chapelcross commissioned by British Nuclear Fuels. Hydrographic Survey, Report Pantin H.M. 1978. Quaternary Sediments from the North-East Irish Sea: Isle of Man to Cumbria, Bulletin 64 of the Geological Survey of Great Britain, Institute of Geological Sciences, Natural Environment Research Council. Perkins E.J., Bailey M. and Williams B.R.H. 1964a. Seabed and Sea Surface Drifter Release, United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, P.G. Report 550(CC). Perkins E.J., Bailey M. and Williams B.R.H. 1964b. United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, P.G. Report 604(CC). Perkins E.J. and Williams B.R.H. 1963. United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, P.G. Report 500(CC). Perkins E.J. and Williams B.R.H. 1960's. United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, P.G. Report 587(CC). Pinter and Gardner. 1989. Reference unknown, taken from Irish Sea Forum Seminar Report. 1992. Seminar 1, Global Warming and Climatic Change, University of Liverpool. Posford Duvivier. 1994. Report on Coast Protection for the Saltpans at Crosscanonby. Report for Borough of Allerdale. Preston A., Jefferies D.F. and Mitchell N.T. 1971. Experience gained from the controlled introduction of liquid radioactive waste to coastal waters, Nuclear techniques in environmental pollution, International Atomic Energy Agency Symposium, Salzburg, pp 629-644. Ramster J.W. 1973. The residual circulation of the northern Irish Sea with particular reference to Liverpool Bay, Fisheries Laboratory, Lowestoft, Technical Report Series, Number 5. Shoreline Management Partnership. 1991a. Silloth Coastal Study, Executive Summary and Main Report, Report for Associated British Ports Research and Consultancy Ltd. Shoreline Management Partnership. 1991b. Silloth Coastal Study, Appendices to Main Report, Report for Associated British Ports Research and Consultancy Ltd. Solway Firth Partnership. 1996. Solway Firth Review. Bullen Consultants Limited 31 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C Solway Rural Initiative. 1994. Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, A statement of intent. Solway Rural Initiative. 1996. Mapping of Coastal Erosion and Accretion along the Sand Dune Coast between Maryport Golf Course and Grune Point. Stanners D.A. 1980. Transport and deposition of radiocaesium and other radionuclides in intertidal sediments of northwest England, Ph.D. Thesis (unpublished), University of Lancaster, 435 pp. Stanners D.A. and Aston S.R. 1981. An improved method of determining sedimentation rates by the use of artificial radionuclides, Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Academic Press Inc. (London) Limited, Volume 13, pp 101-106. Steers J.A. 1948. The Coastline of England and Wales, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Templeton W.L. and Preston A. 1966. Transport and distribution of radioactive effluents in coastal and estuarine waters of the U.K., Disposal of radioactive wastes into seas, oceans and surface waters, International Atomic Energy Agency Symposium, Vienna, pp 267-289. Thomas G.S.P. 1985. The Quaternary of the northern Irish Sea basin. In Johnson R.H. (ed.). Geomorphology of north-west England. Manchester University Press, Manchester. Pp 143-148. Tooley M.J. 1974. Sea-Level Changes during the last 9000 years in North West England, Geographical Journal, Volume 140, pp 18-42. Wallace Evans Ltd. 1991. Silloth-Seascale Marine Studies, Volumes 1-2 (part 111). Wimpol Ltd. 1986. Cumbrian Coast Current Study. Wimpol Ltd. 1987. Geophysical and vibrocuring survey, Report number G7511, July 1987. Wingfield R.T.R. 1992. Modelling late pleistocene and holocene coasts in the Irish and Celtic seas. Woodhead P.M.J. and Lee A.J. 1960. International Council for the exploration of the sea, C.M. 1960 Hydrological Committee Number 12. Bullen Consultants Limited 32 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C 3.0 Natural Environment 3.1 Conservation Interests and Designation In this section coastal features of interest for biological, geological, geomorphological and landscape value will be discussed. Table 3.1 (Appendix B) presents a summary of sites of interest within this SMP area. These areas are shown on Figures 3.1 and 3.2 (Appendix A). The general habitats found along the length of coast covered by this plan are shown on Figure 3.3. 3.1.1 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) There are 10 SSSI’s within the influence of this SMP area which are either coastal or could be influenced by works on the coast (Figure 3.1). SSSI’s are notified under powers granted in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (and subsequent amendments). The provisions of the act aim to limit or prevent operations that are potentially damaging to the wildlife interest of the area. An area can be designated as a SSSI where there is “special interest by reason of any of its flora, fauna or geological or physiographical features” especially those of value to wildlife conservation (Hamilton Oil Company Ltd, undated). The ten SSSI’s cover a total area of 32,245 ha, much of which is made up by Upper Solway Flats and Marshes SSSI which cover an area of 29,951 ha (JNCC 1996). Parts of this site lie within Wildfowl Trust, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Cumbria Wildlife Trust and RSPB reserves. Six of the SSSI’s are located inland from the coast but have been included in this study as there could be an influence on these sites as a result of the coastal defence proposals in this SMP area. 3.1.2 Regionally Important Geological/Geomorphological Sites (RIGS) RIGS are non-statutory designations at the same level as Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC’s). This is an informal designation of sites chosen for their educational, research, historical or aesthetic importance. A register of RIGS for Cumbria is maintained by the Cumbria RIGS Group. There are 8 RIGS within the plan area (Figure 3.2) (Cumbria Wildlife Trust Response). Tom Hurd Rock, South Beach, Whitehaven: The site is notified for its Westphalian C Delta Top sequence - an upward coarsening sequence with palaeosol, coal and peat mire succeeded by wave and current rippled sandstone with channel attributed to a distributory beach. Bransty Quarries and Parton Cliffs: The area provides a highly academic educational study of the coal measures. Bransty Quarrys channels the reddened Whitehaven Sandstone of Westphalian C age. Parton cliffs overbank deposits with drifted lead fossils (calamites, neuropteris, annuloria). There is evidence of recent landslides. Lowca Railway Bank: The only “permanent” good exposure of a coal seam and seat earths in West Cumbria. The Ten Quarters seam is well exposed, split into two leaves. Pale silty to fine sand, thinly bedded seat earths underlie these. Cunning Point, nr Lowca: Exposures of clean Westphalian A sedimentary structures in which a wide range of bedding features can be identified. A prograding delta sequence can be traced from delta plain channels to delta/sea interface. Bullen Consultants Limited 33 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C Swarthy Hill, near Allonby: A site for visitors to view the Saltpans and reconstruction of a Roman Mile Fortlet. Swarthy Hill is part of a family of drumlins and the landform feature providing the context for these. Exposures near its summit contain at least 5 different types of erratics, some possibly of Scottish provenance. Submerged Forest , nr Beckfoot: Exposure of forest soil, containing peat and recognizable organic fragments, resting on what is believed to be an ancient beach. This is the most extensive and commonly exposed submerged forest on the North Cumbrian coast, carbon dated to c. 8000 BC. It indicates climatic improvement at a postglacial time of low sea level. Mawbray Banks (nr Beckfoot): A cross section above the present sea level showing position and nature of a raised beach formed when sea level was “25 feet” above present level. Glasson Point, Bowness on Solway: An accessible exposure of an eroded drumlin continually renewed by erosion. “Glacial flows” can be suggested on the basis of the erratic rock types in the land form. 3.1.3 Biological Heritage Sites Biological Heritage Sites (BHS’s) are non-statutory sites designated for local nature conservation interest. In Cumbria these sites are called County Wildlife Sites (CWS’s) and are designated by Cumbria County Council in consultation with Cumbria Wildlife Trust. These sites are commonly referred to as Sites of Nature Conservation Importance in PPG9: Nature Conservation. CWS’s are shown in the Local Plans covering this SMP area and are protected from development to some extent by specific planning policies within this SMP area. There are 10 CWS’S (Figure 3.2) within the plan area. 3.1.4 National and Local Nature Reserves National Nature Reserves (NNR’s) are designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. In England they are declared by English Nature. South Solway Mosses NNR comprises three areas of extensive lowland raised mires - Bowness Common, Wedholme Flow and Glasson Moss. The total declared holding is 560ha on the three sites. The three sites contain over 263ha of uncut natural mire surface vegetation out of a total of 475 ha in England and 3298 ha in the UK. The main objectives of management are to maintain the uncut areas and restore high water tables to damaged and drained areas to encourage the rehabilitation and restoration of peat forming vegetation (English Nature Response). Local Nature Reserves (LNR’s) are declared by local authorities in consultation with English Nature. They are nature conservation sites owned and administered by local authorities under Section 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 (JNCC, 1996). LNR’s are sites with at least local nature conservation importance. There are two LNR’s within this SMP area; Siddick Pond and Harrington Reservoir (Figure 3.2). Siddick Pond is situated 1km north of Workington and is now the largest coastal open water body within the Allerdale and Carlisle districts (14.5 ha open water). The coastal location and size of the open water provide excellent conditions for waterfowl and other birds. Harrington Reservoir covers an area of 7ha and the reservoir and its environs hold a number of sensitive species, including those that are nationally declining including bullfinch, grasshopper warbler, reed bunting and spotted flycatcher. The reserve is also supportive of a number of commoner species including sedge warbler, dunnock etc. Bullen Consultants Limited 34 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 3.1.5 96M477/2/C Marine Nature Reserves and Sensitive Marine Areas There are no Marine Nature Reserves designated within the plan study area. SMA’s are non-statutory marine areas that are nationally important and notable for their marine animal and plant communities or which provide ecological support to adjacent statutory sites (JNCC 1996). The sites are identified by English Nature and rely on co-operation of users and local communities for sustainable management, with the help of grant aid. There are 2 sensitive Marine Areas (SMA’s) within the plan area : Cumbria Coast and Solway. 3.1.6 Ramsar Sites Ramsar sites are designated by the UK government following advice from the Statutory Conservation Agencies. They are designated under the Ramsar Convention (The Convention on wetlands of international importance, especially as waterfowl habitat). Ramsar sites have an equivalent conservation status to SSSI’s. The Upper Solway Flats and Marshes is a Ramsar Site (Figure 3.1). The site qualifies under: Criterion 3a by regularly supporting over 20,000 waterfowl Criterion 3c by supporting, in winter, internationally important populations of ten waterfowl species Criterion 2a by supporting a number of rare species of animal. These include over 10% of the British population of natterjack toads (Bufo calamita) and a population of the great crested newt (Triturus cristatus). The site is also important for a number of nationally important wintering bird populations. (English Nature Response). 3.1.7 Special Protection Areas (SPA’s) Special Protection Areas are designated under the EC Birds Directive (79/409/EEC). Sites are designated as SPA’s due to international importance for birds. All SPA’s have first to be notified as SSSI’s. The Conservation (Natural Habitats &c) Regulations 1994 is the key instrument implementing this Directive in the UK. The Regulations place special responsibilities on relevant authorities to ensure that the habitats and species for which particular sites are designated are maintained in a ‘favourable condition’. The Upper Solway Flats and Marshes is a Special Protection Area (Figure 3.1). It has been proposed due to the size and nature of bird populations within the estuary. The area supports internationally and nationally important populations of three Annex 1 species of wildfowl, waders and a further 8 migratory waterfowl (English Nature undated). 3.1.8 Special Areas of Conservation Special Areas of Conservation (SAC’s) are designated under Council Directive 92/43/EEC (The Habitats Directive) and are implemented into UK Law by the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c) Regulations 1994. Under Article 6 of the Habitats Directive it states that “Member States shall take appropriate steps to avoid, in the special areas of conservation, the deterioration of natural habitats and the habitats of species as well as disturbance of the species for which the areas have been designated”. The Habitats Directive defines and lists those sites and species of European importance. Bullen Consultants Limited 35 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C There are two candidate SAC’s within the Shoreline Management Plan area (Figure 3.2). Although these are candidate SAC’s and not yet adopted by the EC, Government advice is that cSACs should be treated as if so designated (English Nature response). The Solway Firth area is proposed as a possible SAC because it contains habitats and/or species that are rare or threatened within a European context. The area is important for subtidal sandbanks and for glasswort and other annual plant species colonising mud and sand. It is considered to be one of the best areas in the UK (English Nature, undated a). The Solway Mosses candidate SAC comprises of four areas of extensive lowland raised mires, for which this is considered to be one of the best areas in the United Kingdom (English Nature undated). 3.1.9 Environmentally Sensitive Areas Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA’s) were introduced under Section 18 of the 1986 Agriculture Act to help safeguard areas where the landscape, wildlife or historic interest is of national importance. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) designates ESA’s after consultation with English Nature (EA) and the Countryside Commission. There are no Environmentally Sensitive Areas within the area of the Shoreline Management Plan. 3.1.10 National Parks There are no National Parks within the area of the Shoreline Management Plan. 3.1.11 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB’s) are designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. They are designated by the Countryside Commission in England. There is one AONB in the area of the plan located on the southern shore of the inner Solway between Rockcliffe Marsh and Maryport (Figure 3.4). The Solway Coast AONB was designated in 1964 and covers an area of 115 sq. km. The designated area is split into two sectors by the exclusion of the town of Silloth. The habitats of the area are of UK and international importance for wildlife and landscape. The area between Maryport and Silloth is largely sand dunes, dune slacks and dune heath. Salt marsh is the predominant landscape from Grune Point eastwards to the village of Rockcliffe. The saltmarshes are of international importance for wildlife. Agricultural land forms a large part of the AONB and traditional hedgerow field boundaries with sandstone gateposts, traditional barns and farmhouses will contribute to a distinctive landscape (Solway Rural Initiative Limited, 1997). Bullen Consultants Limited 36 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 3.1.12 96M477/2/C Heritage Coast Heritage Coasts are undeveloped coasts delineated for informal recreation purposes. In England they are delineated by the Countryside Commission in consultation with Local Authorities, although there is no specific statutory legislation to support them. St. Bees Head is an area of Heritage Coast, delineated in 1989, and covers a length of coast of 5.9km (Figure 3.4). Part of this coast is within the area of the Shoreline Management Plan. 3.2 Historical Evolution 3.2.1 Natural Evolution The coastal landscape within this SMP area is continually evolving as a result of both natural processes and human interference. Physical processes such as changes in land and sea levels have resulted in a landscape with many distinctive features such as raised beaches and submerged forests. The coasts of the Solway Firth are made up of terraced alluvium, overlain locally by peat bogs. Saltmarshes in the intertidal areas pass landward into a series of marine terraces, raised into position by the rebound of the earth’s crust following the melting of the last ice sheet. (JNCC, 1996). The spit peninsula at Grune Point and extensive sand dunes and estuarine creeks and sand flats are formed as a result of coastal processes, and further south along the coast, St. Bees Head is a result of the exposure of relatively resistant sandstone (Solway Firth Partnership 1996). 3.2.2 Human Interference Human interference within this area is dominated by a few periods. The Roman period is evidenced by a series of coastal forts stretching the length of coastline up to the Solway and Hadrian’s Wall. This was a military zone and the Solway Firth was the frontier zone, with the western end of Hadrian’s Wall following the southern shore to Bowness. Mile fortlets and turrets form a 23 mile chain along the coastal dunes (JNCC 1996). In the 12th and 13th centuries landholdings were established and associated trade and agricultural improvement resulted in marsh drainage, construction of sea defences and introduction of sheep grazing into previously wilderness areas (Solway Firth Partnership 1996). The end of the 13th century began a time of instability with invasions and raids in areas claimed by both Scotland & England. The 17th century saw a period of stability with the establishment of large estates, the enclosure of agricultural land and the beginning of the industrial revolution. Industrial development resulted in the expansion of towns and areas previously sparsely populated, becoming major mining or manufacturing centres. The export of the West Cumberland coal deposits in the 17th century and the import of tobacco resulted in the development of Whitehaven. The growth of Maryport in the 19th century was based on coal, shipbuilding and cattle. Workington was developed commercially in the mid to late 19th century as a result of exploitation of local iron ore and development of the steel industry. Construction of the Solway Viaduct from Durnock to Bowness began in 1868 and on opening in 1869 it allowed the transportation, by rail, of iron ore from West Bullen Consultants Limited 37 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C Cumberland to the steelworks of Lanarkshire. The remains of the viaduct are still visible on either shore. The decline of the railways has however resulted in weakened long distance connections (Solway Firth Partnership, 1996). The two major areas of human interference, as mentioned above, on the coastline have been:(1) The construction and expansion of harbours to service trade in coal, iron ore and other products. (2) The disposal of colliery waste and ironwork slag by coastal tipping. Other areas of human interference are as follows: 3.2.2.1 Construction of sea defences and flood barriers around the banks of the Esk and Eden, enclosing small areas of former marsh. 3.2.2.2 Dredging and sand extraction also exert an influence on the coast. Mechanical dredging for cockles at Silloth introduces large amounts of fine sediment into suspension and these are distributed further afield. However the effects are unlikely to be significant unless the quantities are significant in terms of the overall volume moved by natural processes (Coastal Research Group, 1994). 3.2.2.3 The dunes south of Silloth have been stripped to extract underlying gravel deposits in two pits near Mawbray. Gravel extraction also occurs on a smaller scale from beaches at Allonby Bay, Mawbray Bank and Wolsty Bay. 3.2.2.4 Evolving agriculture and forestry practices have also exerted an influence on the landscape, as have commercial and residential demands. 3.3 Present Constraints 3.3.1 Legislative Constraints There are a number of legislative constraints within this SMP area. Many of these have already been discussed in Section 3.1. Statutory designations such as SSSI, SAC and SPA are all backed by legislation which restricts development in order to protect the natural environment. Legislation includes the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Conservation (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1994, EC Directive 79/409/EEC (the Birds Directive), EC Directive 92/43/EEC (the Habitats Directive), the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and the Agriculture Act 1986. 3.3.2 Other Constraints Other non-statutory constraints include local planning policies. Policies governing development are provided in Copeland Borough Council Local Plan, Allerdale Borough Council Local Plan and Carlisle District Local Plan. Bullen Consultants Limited 38 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 3.4 Current Trends 3.4.1 Losses of Habitats 96M477/2/C The extent of coastal habitat is related to sea level conditions and the severity of exposure. Increases in both of these will result in the loss of existing habitat. However, similar habitat may be created further inland. Where the position of the coastline is fixed either naturally (e.g. due to the presence of rocky cliffs) or due to the influence of humans (e.g. due to rock armour coastal defences), opportunities for habitats to migrate landward are denied. This process is called coastal squeeze and it accelerates the rate of habitat loss. The coastal road between Maryport and Silloth prevents the landward migration of coastal habitats. Scouring of the strip for car parks and associated recreational impacts, largely as a result of increased tourism further add to this. Agricultural intensification has also resulted in the loss of wildlife habitats. The construction and maintenance of flood embankments and existing sea defences may result in losses of intertidal habitats, upper parts of saltmarshes and a transition into grazing marshes and freshwater habitats. Vegetated shingle is also prone to habitat loss as a result of construction and maintenance of sea defences and from the new access that may be required to these areas. This can result in disturbance to overwintering and breeding birds e.g. oystercatcher, ringed plover, little tern. Recreational activities and associated access may result in some habitat loss e.g. horse riders and motor vehicles may cause damage to sand dunes and salt marsh. (English Nature Response). Other losses of habitat may result from a potential sea level rise and increased storm surge frequency. Wetlands, particularly in the inner Solway are vulnerable to sea level rise. They support a highly diverse species composition and productive habitats. Any intrusion or inundation by saltwater is likely to modify the pattern and composition of communities. If sufficient sediment is available, however, salt marshes may be able to accrete fast enough to outstrip the sea level rise. In work undertaken by the Coastal Research Group for the Estuary Management Plan it is stated that patterns of accretion for Rockcliffe Marsh suggest it is accreting despite the rising sea level (Coastal Research Group 1996). Further work should be undertaken to confirm and quantify coastal squeeze along the coast, together with the likely impacts it causes to important habitats etc., and to identify means of mitigating such impacts which themselves do not generate further adverse impacts. 3.4.2 Losses of Species Distribution and Abundance No information concerning specific losses of species distribution and abundance has been available during the development of this SMP. At a national level there are many species which are in decline in the UK. These species are considered to be priority species by the UK Biodiversity Steering Group and they include: European otter (Lutra lutra) Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) Natterjack toad (Bufo calamita) Etc. There are also numerous invertebrates and lower and higher plants included on the list of priority species. It is likely that the biodiversity priority species in the plan area are suffering a similar decline to the national populations. Bullen Consultants Limited 39 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 3.4.3 96M477/2/C Gains of Habitats There are six major saltmarsh sites within this SMP area, located at Rockcliffe Marsh, Burgh Marsh, Cardurnock Flats, Newton Marsh, Calvo Marsh and Skinburness. These areas are grouped into three sections, Rockcliffe Marsh, Burgh Marsh and Moricambe Bay (CRG, 1993). According to Rave (1978) between 1946 and 1973 the Solway Firth marsh system saw a net gain by accretion to c.383 ha. (the estimated growth was 565ha but this was offset by the loss of marsh through frontal erosion) (CRG, 1993). Rockcliffe Marsh has been expanding at a considerable rate with a net gain of 414 ha between 1946 and 1973. This is almost certainly due to the migration of the River Esk and Eden channels to the shores of the area. This ability to change with migration patterns is an important conservation feature of the inner Solway. The Moricambe Bay salt marshes have also shown a net growth over the last 150 years, particularly Skinburness Marsh and Newton Marsh. The main area of active dunes within this SMP area is to the south of Silloth where an extensive system stretches along most of the coast between Silloth Docks and Maryport. There is much erosion in the southern part of the site but there is some evidence of modest accretion at the northern end of the system close to Silloth Docks. 3.4.4 Gains of species distribution and abundance The area supports populations of invertebrates, birds, amphibians, mammals including some notable species that may be rare or declining. The Solway Firth supports a mixture of invertebrates, some of which are the edge of their ranges (both north and south). The Gulf Stream influence on the Firth results in a mild climate and enables several southern species to survive in isolated populations e.g. purse-web spider (Alypus affinis) at Rockcliffe. (Solway Firth Partnership, 1996). The presence of otter (Lutra lutra) has been recorded on the lower reaches of the Sark, and the Esk and also on the coast at Burgh Marsh. There has been a 31% increase in otter distribution in this area over the last 10 years. (Strachan and Jeffries (in press) Otter Survey of England 1991 - 1994. JNCC Peterborough). The otter is protected by law from destruction, damage or disturbance under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). There are significant populations of brown hare (Lepus europaeus) on the grasslands and saltmarshes of Burgh-by-Sands, Kirkbride and Abbeytown areas and around the border Esk. The brown hare is one of the fastest declining animals in Britain and where they are locally common there should be measures to conserve them. Water voles (Arvicola terrestris) are recommended for addition to Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act at the next review. They are found on coastal agricultural land of the inner Solway and north of St. Bees Head. The natterjack toad (Bufo calamita) is found at a number of locations throughout this SMP area, and is protected in Britain under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The natterjack is at the northern limit of its range at the Solway and over 10% of the British population are found here. The great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) is found in a few sites around the Solway with some important colonies within the Upper Solway Flats and Marshes SSSI. This species is protected by law on Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act Bullen Consultants Limited 40 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C (1981) and the EC Habitats and Species Directive as well as through the Council of Europe’s Bern Convention. There are a number of areas within this SMP, important for bird species. The plan includes a Ramsar site, two proposed Special Protection Areas and two RSPB reserves. The little tern (Sterna albifrons) is protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. There is a breeding site for this species on the foreshore at Siddick and it is recognised as the largest colony in Cumbria and the most important in north-west England. No information concerning gains in plant species and abundance have been available during the development of this SMP. 3.5 Predicted Future Trends 3.5.1 Habitats The saltmarsh areas within the plan are likely to show continued accretion but any gains in the area may be offset by coastal erosion and sea level rise. The rate of accretion is dependent on a sufficient supply of sediment and inundation is likely to be severe as the sea level rises if marshes are unable to accrete fast enough. Information presently available suggests the saltmarsh and intertidal areas are currently accreting and at present are not under threat of inundation (CRG, 1994) There is likely to be a contrived decrease in coastal habitats along the coast where areas are subject to coastal squeeze and natural erosion. 3.5.2 Species distribution and abundance No information has been available regarding the predicted future trends of species distribution and abundance, during the development of this SMP. 3.6 Opportunities for Environmental Enhancement 3.6.1 Reductions in pollution Coastal waters are under threat from a number of pollution sources such as agricultural runoff, chemical factories, industry, mining, domestic sewage, oil spills and tourism. There is some radioactive discharge from British Nuclear Fuels plc (BNFL) Chapelcross Works near Annan and Sellafield Works on the Cumbrian Coast. Although these two locations are not within this SMP area, their influence on coastal and estuarine waters cannot be discounted. BNFL Plc has a maximum consented daily effluent flow of: Untreated: Site Drainage: 6,000 m3 12,000 m3 Discharges from Sellafield rose to a peak in the early 1970s when the maximum permitted release of emitters was 222TBq yr-1 and of emitters 11,100 TBq yr-1. Since this time there has been a significant reduction in the consented levels. By 1986 the permitted level of emitters was 14TBq yr-1 and of emitters 950 TBq yr1. The actual discharges have been substantially below these levels. There are two key consented discharges within the plan area. Iggesbund Paperboard Plc has a consent to discharge 30,000 m 3 of treated effluent at Bullen Consultants Limited 41 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C Workington and Albright and Wilson Ltd at Whitehaven has a consent to discharge 28,000 m3 of untreated effluent. New sewage works at Silloth, Allonby and Workington are part of North West Water’s Sea Change Initiative for Bathing Water Quality which will attempt to meet and maintain the standards required by the Bathing Water Directive. There are four bathing waters designated within the plan area as follows: In 1999 Skinburness and Allonby both met the guideline coliform and faecal streptococci standards. Silloth and Allonby South met the mandatory coliform standard. It is generally recognised that the trend of increased consistency of compliance with the Bathing Waters Directive continues. Technological advances mean that the opportunities for reducing pollution are increasing all the time. It is largely outside the scope of this report to identify specific polluters and advise on pollution abatement. However, the objectives set out in the plan should aim to ensure that existing pollution problems are not exacerbated. 3.6.2 Increases on habitats The strategy for natterjack toad (Bufo calamita) conservation in Cumbria provides an overview of potential for enhancement of the species within this SMP area. An estimated 50% of the UK population of the natterjack toad exists on the Cumbrian coast and the species is particularly vulnerable to coastal development. Natterjack colonies exist at Allonby, Anthon, Grune Point, Mawbray Banks, Silloth/Wolsty. Some old breeding sites at Workington are known to exist but it is not clear whether natterjacks still use them (English Nature Response c). Further monitoring work will be required to confirm the presence or absence of this species. The numbers of populations range from tens of adults at Anthorn to several hundred at Mawbray (Solway Firth Partnership, 1996). With regard to the coastal defence strategy it may be possible to include enhancement of habitats for natterjack toad if soft defences or management retreat options are proposed. There may be some potential for enhancing areas for Sabellaria alveolata reef communities. Sabellaria reefs are identified under the “Guidelines for Selection of SSSI’s, intertidal marine habitats and saline lagoons” (JNCC 1996). These reef communities are found around the scar grounds of Dubmill Point and other less extensive areas down the coast to Workington - This ‘reef-building’ worm reaches its northern limit in the British Isles in the Solway. It may be possible to encourage the growth of Sabellaria reefs on hard sea defences where appropriate. Further research would need to be undertaken to assess the feasibility of this option. Where managed retreat options are feasible it may be possible to enhance the habitats seaward of the secondary defence. It is possible to re-open old creek systems (located using aerial photographs) and encourage the build up of Saltmarsh habitats via increasing sedimentation. The end result of retreat management is to produce an intertidal area which will absorb wave energy and at the same time provide a valuable ecological resource. 3.6.3 Increases in species distribution and abundance No information concerning increases in species distribution and abundance has been available during the development of this SMP. Bullen Consultants Limited 42 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C 4.0 Human and Built Environment 4.1 Historical Evolution 4.1.1 Growth of Settlements The coastline within this SMP has sustained important settlements from early times. The Solway Firth was the frontier zone of the Roman occupation of Britain, with the western end of Hadrian’s wall following the southern shore to Bowness. A chain of mile fortlets and turrets extended 23 miles along the coast and a supply port was constructed at Maryport. Industrial development in the 17th century saw the expansion of towns. The development of Whitehaven was begun by Lowther exporting coal and importing tobacco and the town became one of England’s main ports. The expansion of Maryport was based in coal, shipbuilding and cattle. The growth of Workington in the Victorian era largely stemmed from exploitation of the local iron ore which stimulated the beginnings of the steel industry, and the trade of these three towns spanned the world (Solway Firth Partnership, 1996). Silloth is one of the major communities on the southern coast of the Solway. The importance of the town is largely due to the working docks and former airfield. Silloth developed as a commercial port and centre for tourism. The outer harbour was built between 1857 and 1859, protruding 200m beyond the natural coastline. Today the coast is a combination of isolated farms and hamlets and large industrial planned settlements. The coastline between St. Bees and Maryport is well developed and urbanised with the largest developments at Whitehaven, Maryport and especially Workington, all of which have working docks. 4.1.2 Principle Settlements The principle settlements within this SMP area are Workington, Whitehaven, Maryport and Silloth. Workington is the largest settlement. The growth of Silloth is largely due to the working dock and its importance as a tourist location. 4.2 Residential/Industrial areas and infrastructure 4.2.1 Residential Areas The largest residential areas within the coastal zone are Whitehaven and Workington. In 1991 Whitehaven had a population of 27,030 and Workington a population of 27,347. Other notable residential areas include Maryport and Silloth. 4.2.2 Industrial Areas Whitehaven, Workington and Maryport are the main industrial townships within this SMP area. The industry was previously based on the exploitation of coal measures but coal pits and opencast areas are now largely reclaimed. The industrial base now includes chemical works and other industrial developments (Solway Firth Partnership, 1996). The early industrial boom in Workington was based on coal and iron ore but recently the town has struggled to deal with its declining industry and peripheral location Bullen Consultants Limited 43 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C (Allerdale Borough Council Local Plan 1997). Industry and housing have become the focal point for developments. Maryport’s major development as an industrial town was based around the iron industry in the 18th and 19th centuries - 3 shipyards were built, quarries and coal mines were active and a good manufacturing base developed. However, the opening of Workington Docks and closure of some industries began to decline the economic base. Mining, iron and steel and shipbuilding no longer remain in the town although there have been efforts to stem this decline e.g. the Solway Trading Estate of 1938. An Enterprise Zone was set up in 1983 and Maryport Developments Ltd was set up to help regenerate the harbour area and reverse the economic decline of the town. The Enterprise Zone has now expired but Maryport Developments Ltd has been able to assemble land, remove dereliction and provide infrastructure in the harbour area. A 200 berth marina, boat repair yard and housing have been developed and have made a considerable contribution to the local economy. (Allerdale Borough Council, Local Plan 1997). Whitehaven’s development was based on the export of coal and development as a port. Major employment in this area is now largely based in energy/water supply and mining. 4.2.3 Infrastructure The Cumbrian Coastal Railway follows the coast from Whitehaven in the south to Maryport. The majority of this line was constructed in the late 1840’s and the existing revetment forms a natural sea defence along much of the coast. These defences serve purely to protect the railway track from flooding and Railtrack hold no liability for the maintenance of sea defences for any other purpose. This line forms an essential link between coastal settlements and has also been vital for industrial development within this SMP area. The B5300 is the coastal road which runs north from Maryport to Silloth. This road is presently at risk from coastal erosion and flooding. 4.3 Recreation, tourism and education 4.3.1 Yachting and sea angling Boats are launched at few sites along this SMP coastline, mostly south of Maryport where the main yachting activity takes place. The national governing body for Yachting is the Royal Yachting Association which has five affiliated clubs (all between Whitehaven and Maryport) along this stretch of SMP coastline. Sea angling takes place along the coastline of this SMP, within the inner Solway and from Silloth to St. Bees Head. The national governing body is the National Federation of Sea Anglers and there are a number of affiliated sea angling clubs in the area. Sea anglers fish from both the shore and from boats. Those fishing from the shore will fish from a sandy or pebble beach, rocks and in some cases from cliffs. It is important that freedom of access is maintained to these areas. 4.3.2 Sea bathing and water sports There are 5 areas designated as bathing waters within the plan. These waters are located at Skinburness, Silloth, Allonby (2) and St. Bees. They are identified under the EC Bathing Water Directives and are regularly monitored for water quality. Sailing is a popular activity along the coast between Whitehaven and Maryport, where there is a marina. One of the most popular trans-Solway routes is between Maryport and Kippford (outside this SMP area). Windsurfing is one of the main Bullen Consultants Limited 44 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C water based activities at Allonby which is the location of an annual national racing event held by the British Windsurfers Association. The British Canoe Union are the national governing body for sport and recreation of canoeing, representing over 24,000 individual members and 600 clubs. Their interests include sea canoeing and kayaking, sea touring surfing (recreational and competitive) and sea races. All waters within this SMP are canoed to varying degrees. St. Bees Head is very popular as it is NW England’s most continuous stretch of cliffed coastline. The area is used for coastal touring, coaching and training for a wide range of abilities. The inner Solway waters produce strong tidal flows and conditions are of value to the advanced paddlers. The upper reaches of all estuarine channels provide more sheltered water and very enjoyable canoeing. Both the Solway and St. Bees Head are noted for their wildlife, particularly their seabird populations. They are canoed throughout the year and it is part of the experience to enjoy and consider the wildlife encountered (British Canoe Union Response). At Whitehaven the recent Harbour project is dedicated to local youth using the sea for canoeing and sailing. At Workington the West Cumbria College runs specialist outdoor recreation courses for canoes and kayaks in all disciplines. Current canoeing Codes of Practice guides paddlers to avoid disturbance to nesting birds on both cliffs and shoreline and canoeing numbers are not considered great enough to produce a cumulative effect. 4.3.3 Beach Recreation Many beaches along the coastline attract visitors and are used by the local residents. They provide a focal point for a range of watersports and onshore recreational activities. 4.3.4 Onshore Recreation The onshore recreation in this area focuses largely on wild-fowling, birdwatching, walking and cycling. There are two RSPB reserves within this SMP area at St. Bees and Campfield Marsh. These areas are important for wildlife observation. The British Association for Shooting and Conservation is the national governing body for wildfowling and there are a number of affiliated clubs with interests in this area. For example, the South Solway Wildfowler’s Association has interests in all intertidal areas and marsh from Old Kiln to the River Sark and the West Cumberland Wildfowler’s Association has interests over 25.5 acres of Merse Edge and the Esk estuary. Walking is one of the most popular activities in the area. The Ramblers Association (Lake District Area and Carlisle and North Cumbria Groups) have interests in Rights of Way and access, conservation and the provision of enjoyment of Britain’s countryside on foot. The Cumbrian Coastal Way runs the length of the coast from St. Bees Head to Moricambe Bay and north to the Solway. The Cumbria Cycle Way also follows the coast for part of its length along this SMP. There are four golf courses within the study area located at Silloth, Maryport and two at Workington. Horse-riding, cycling and camping are also popular onshore recreational activities. 4.3.5 Tourism 4.3.5.1 Tourism areas and infrastructure. Bullen Consultants Limited 45 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C The coastline and settlements within this SMP offer many attractions to tourists. The landscape, in particular the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, offers a variety of scenery and recreational opportunities for tourists, with water sports, bird watching, coastal footpaths, cycleways and golf courses. The cultural heritage of the area attracts a large number of tourists, in particular the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site. There are plans to create a new National Trail for walkers alongside Hadrian’s Wall, providing a 130km (81 mile) continuous long distance path. This path will greatly improve public access to the site. The area is susceptible to seasonality in tourism demand. There has been a general increase in short break holidays which offers the opportunity to extend the peak season and improve visitor numbers in low season. Silloth is an important tourist area with its coastal golf course and caravan park and its proximity to the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Both Copeland Borough Council and Allerdale Borough Council recognise that the coast is becoming increasingly popular as a recreational resource. They are continuing to investigate further tourist attractions which involve the coast, provided the natural and man-made heritage of the area is not compromised. 4.3.5.2 Numbers of Tourists No information regarding the numbers of tourists using the coastal zone has been available during the development of this SMP. 4.3.5.3 Income from Tourism No information regarding the income from tourism in the coastal zone has been available during the development of this SMP. 4.3.6 Education No information regarding education in the coastal zone has been available during the development of this SMP. 4.4 Archaeological and Historic Features 4.4.1 Archaeological Features The Cumbria County Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) provides details of archaeological features and finds. There are approximately 600 SMR sites within this SMP area. Although sites listed on this record have no statutory protection they provide an important insight into the nature of the archaeological resource within the plan area. Finds from prehistoric, Roman, Medieval and post Medieval periods have been recorded on the SMR. The archaeological features in conjunction with many historical references give a good indication of the archaeological importance of the area. The Roman influence is particularly apparent within the northern part of the plan area. Hadrian’s Wall linear structure and its associated castles and forts is one of the most significant complexes of archaeological remains in the world. The linear structure extends west to Bowness on Solway and the chain of towers and mile fortlets extends southwards to Maryport, Workington and Moresby (Figure 4.1). The site is designated as a World Heritage Site acknowledged and protected by the UNESCO World Heritage Convention for outstanding universal, artistic and technical value. 4.4.2 Historical Features Bullen Consultants Limited 46 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C Historical features of the coast within this SMP area include industrial areas and historical infrastructure, particularly the railways. Conservation Areas are areas defined in local plans. They are defined for their historic, cultural and landscape significance. Specific planning policies provide some protection from unsuitable development in Conservation Areas and ensure that any alterations to buildings etc. are carried out in a way which is complementary to the existing setting of the area. Within the area of the plan there are a number of designated Conservation Areas:- 4.4.3 Whitehaven Town Centre, of national significance for its Georgian and Victorian architecture Three areas within Whitehaven - Corkickle, High Street and Hensingham The village of Bowness on Solway The village of Port Carlisle Scheduled Ancient Monuments Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAM’s) are scheduled by the Department of National Heritage on advice from English Heritage (EH) in England under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 (Figure 4.1). Within this SMP there are 77 SAM’s, many of which form part of the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site. The location of these sites are shown on Figure 4.1. Such sites are deemed to be of national importance and are protected as such under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. Bullen Consultants Limited 47 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 4.4.4 96M477/2/C Listed Buildings Listed Buildings are indicated on a list compiled by central government as being of “special architectural or historic interest”. There are nearly 8500 listed buildings in Cumbria including 225 listed churches. There are 23 listed buildings within the study area, 7 of which are churches (Figure 4.1). 4.5 Aggregate Extraction 4.5.1 Offshore No offshore aggregate extraction (commercial or otherwise) takes place off the coast covered by this SMP. 4.5.2 Foreshore 4.5.2.1 Workington Harbour Beach material collected immediately to the south of the pier is extracted with permission from the Harbour Authority to reduce the rate at which the navigation channel requires dredging. The extracted material which is mainly gravel, is disposed of commercially outside the littoral drift system of the coast. Extraction’s occur once or twice a year, usually during and/or just after the winter. The last recorded extraction of material took place in the winter of 1996/97 and the quantity removed was approximately 2500t. 4.5.2.2 Maryport Harbour Extensive gravel extraction from the south of the harbour arm was practiced until recently, the material removed being used for building purposes. The decisions to stop was taken as a result of the beach retreating to such an extent that a break occurred in the Senhouse dock in February 1983. 4.5.3 Onshore 4.5.3.1 Maryport to Silloth A number of coastal extraction sites between Maryport Golf Course and Allonby have now been abandoned. Evidence of some of the more recently active sites, for example south of Mawbray are still visible. 4.5.4 Illegal Extraction’s Illegal extraction of aggregates by individuals is thought to take place at a few locations along the coast between Maryport and the Grune. Due to the nature of these extraction’s no exact details of quantities, locations and frequency are available, but areas of particular concern are Allonby Bay and Grune Point. Material, mainly gravel, is removed from the foreshore by local farmers to be used for building work and reinforcing trackways. At Grune Point the material is removed from the gravel ridges which have developed over hundreds of years and now form an important part of the coastal habitat, as well as protecting the area of Moricambe Bay from extreme sea conditions. At Allonby Bay the removal of gravel not only reduces the quantity of material available for littoral transport and weakens the natural coastal defences, but also results in damage to the backshore areas from the use of heavy plant such as tractors and diggers. In both these areas the removal of material is a recurrent problem which has been monitored since 1992 although it is known to have taken place long before this. Bullen Consultants Limited 48 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 4.6 Present Constraints 4.6.1 Physical Constraints 96M477/2/C There are a number of areas along the length of this SMP coastline where there are physical constraints. The areas from St. Bees Head to Maryport are constrained by the Cumbrian coastal railway line. The railway revetment forms the sea defence for much of the coast, and presents a significant physical constraint. The coastal road, running from Maryport to Silloth is a further constraint. In these areas natural processes are impeded to some extent and managed retreat options for coastal defence are not usually feasible. Other physical constraints include those areas of the coast which have been developed for industrial purposes and towns. The steelworks located in reclaimed land around Workington presents a further constraint. 4.6.2 Economic Constraints The Cumbria coastal railway presents an economic constraint as it would not be economically viable to move the railway or let the existing embankment erode away. It is very important that the railway is protected from damage as a result of wave action. It would not be economically viable to move the coastal road and as a result this presents a further economic constraint. Limited financial resources mean that central funding is unlikely to provide for the protection of areas of agricultural land and golf courses. Any sea defences in such areas would need to be privately funded. 4.6.3 Legislative Constraints The Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site and its setting are subject to a number of designations and regulatory controls. Local authorities have in their structure and local plans, a variety of policies to protect ancient monuments and their settings, and also historic buildings. The Government has requested them in Planning Policy Guidance Note 15 to introduce specific policies to protect World Heritage Sites and some authorities have already done so for Hadrian’s Wall. (Hadrian’s Wall Management Plan 1996). Proposed works which may impact on a Scheduled Ancient Monument will be subject to the requirements of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. 4.6.4 Other Constraints No other constraints have been identified at this stage. Bullen Consultants Limited 49 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C 5.0 Development in the Coastal Zone 5.1 Current Pattern of Land Use The current pattern of land use within this SMP area is shown on Figure 5.1 (Appendix A). 5.1.1 Agricultural Much of the land within this SMP area is agricultural with the majority being pasture for grazing cattle. The majority of the land bordering the coast is classed as Grade 3 agricultural land according to the Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales (1968). Other smaller areas of land are classed as Grade 4 and 5 agricultural land with the remaining areas identified as either urban or in non-agricultural use. The various land classification grades are given below; Grade 1. Grade 2. Grade 3. Grade 4. Grade 5. 5.1.2 Land with very minor or no physical limitations to agricultural use. Land with some minor limitations which exclude it from Grade 1. Land with moderate limitations due to the soil, relief or climate, or some combination of these factors which restricts the choice of crops, timing of cultivation’s, or level or yield. Land with severe limitations due to adverse soil, relief or climate, or a combination of these Land with very severe limitations due to adverse soil, relief or climate, or a combination of these. Residential Areas The main residential areas are Workington, Whitehaven, Maryport and Silloth. Other smaller residential areas include Allonby, Bowness-on-Solway, Siddick, Mawbray, Beckfoot, Blitterlees, Skinburness, Anthorn and Port Carlisle. 5.1.3 Tourism This area of coast is a popular place for visitors. Tourism creates continuous pressures for development and the tourist initiatives are likely to lead to further development pressure in the coastal zone. Allerdale Borough Council has a number of specific tourism objectives within its local plan. The objectives aim to: Ensure a controlled increase in the significance of tourism in Silloth, the Solway Coast and fringe areas of the Lake District National Park. Recognise the important potential of Maryport and Cockermouth as centres for tourism. Ensure the protection, enhancement and interpretation of the natural and man-made heritage of the area for the benefit of residents and tourists, (Allerdale Borough Council, 1997). The Regional Tourism Strategy for Cumbria has been prepared by Cumbria Tourist Board (CTB) which is a partnership of English Tourist Board (ETB), British Tourist Authority (BTA), Cumbria County Council, the six district councils and a large Bullen Consultants Limited 50 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C commercial membership. The aim of the strategy is to bring economic, social and environmental benefits to Cumbria. Development of the economy is crucial due to the decline in employment in other traditional industries. The environment and heritage are the main attraction of the tourism industry. (Regional Tourism Strategy for Cumbria, February 1997). 5.1.4 Commercial The main commercial towns within the plan area are Maryport, Workington and Whitehaven. Whitehaven Town Centre and Harbour Initiative was jointly commissioned by Copeland Borough Council, the West Cumbria Development Agency and English Heritage. The Beacon Heritage Centre was set up overlooking the South harbour as a result of the Initiative and is a commercial development aimed at the promotion of tourism and heritage management and sustainability. The Whitehaven Development Company was set up as a result of the Initiative to direct resources and promote regeneration of the town centre and harbour side (Copeland Borough Council, 1994). The Cumbria Training and Enterprise Council has a responsibility to promote the economy of the area including investment in infrastructure and training for tourism which is identified as a major area for development (Solway Firth Partnership, 1996). 5.1.5 Industrial Agriculture, forestry, food-related manufacturing, transport and tourism provide the principal economic base for the area of the plan. The area as a whole is generally remote from the major industrial areas of the UK. Opportunities for development are possible in a range of related manufacturing, distributive and service activities and processing industries such as the production of dairy produce and sea food. Copeland’s economy is dominated by British Nuclear Fuel Plc’s Sellafield Works. Although the works are located outside the area of the plan, the industry exerts strong influence by providing a large employment and economic base. Allerdale has a wide range of manufacturing industries and estates. The area has suffered a decline in traditional manufacture in minerals, metals and chemicals, metal goods and engineering in recent times. This is shown by a decrease in employment of 28.8% in these industries between 1984 and 1991. (Solway Firth Partnership, 1996). 5.1.6 Open Space Open space is vital within this SMP area. Open access to the coastal zone is important in ensuring that the coast maintains its importance for walkers, bird watchers, wildfowlers etc. Public open spaces are important within coastal villages. Specific details of areas of public open space have not been made available during the development of this SMP. Bullen Consultants Limited 51 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 5.1.7 96M477/2/C Military The only existing military use of the coastal zone within this SMP area is a 500 acre radio station at Anthorn and a small part of Bowness Common SSSI (Figure 5.1). The Ministry of Defence has freehold ownership of this area and the military use comprises a small HQ building and several masts. The land is also used for some stock rearing. 5.2 Commerce, Ports and Harbours, Navigation etc. 5.2.1 Commerce The majority of commercial activity takes place in the towns of Whitehaven, Workington and Maryport. Silloth is the only sizeable settlement on the coast whose principal commercial interest is tourism. 5.2.2 Ports and Harbours 5.2.2.1 The latter part of the 18th century and the early 19th century saw the development of numerous ports and harbours by local merchants and land owners. The competition between the ports reflected largely the fortunes of both the iron and steel industry and the coal industry. After the end of the 19th century amalgamation, rationalisation and progress forced a general decline in all their fortunes with many of the ports eventually closing down. The only significant commercial harbours remaining are at Workington and Silloth, both of which have locked docks and tidal harbours. Whitehaven and Maryport still operate as important fishing ports and have significant leisure use. 5.2.2.2 Workington Harbour Prior to the development of berths and loading facilities for coal shipments in the 18th century by the Curwens, the harbour had already been used for fishing. The harbour developed with the iron and steel trade and eventually, in 1927, with the opening of the 10,000 dwt capacity Prince of Wales dock, dominated the local rival harbours of Whitehaven and Maryport. Since then however, harbour activity has fallen as a result of the decline of local industry and the development of deep water ports and larger ships. Nevertheless the Port of Workington, which is now owned and operated by Cumbria County Council, supports many of the major industries in West Cumbria and is an important port for the import of bulk liquids. A fleet of around 11 trawlers and 20 smaller boats also operate from the harbour. Navigation to the facility is generally good, although a bar can form at the end of the pier after 2-3 consecutive days of heavy south-westerly storms. Maintenance dredging of the dock navigation channel and bar removes between 80,000 and 120,000t per year which is disposed of at a site licensed and approved by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (MAFF). Bullen Consultants Limited 52 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 5.2.2.3 96M477/2/C Silloth Harbour Silloth Harbour was established much later than the other ports in the area in 1857 after the demise of Port Carlisle. The dock was built by an early railway company to improve its facilities in an attempt to retain its proportion of coastal and inland trade from competition with Maryport and a rival railway company. The port was built on reclaimed land and a new dock was opened in 1885. As was the case with Workington, harbour activity has declined, but the port, which is now operated by Associated British Ports (ABP), is still crucial to locally based industries. The principal imports are fertilisers and animal feed, and occasionally aggregates for building purposes are transported across from the north of Ireland via Silloth to the Carlisle area and the south of Scotland. A small fleet of shrimping and cockle dredging boats also operates from there. Navigation to the port is generally good, although access is only possible around high tide and the bars around the main navigation channel change positions frequently. Due to this an annual survey of the bars and channels is carried out by the harbour master. Dredging is carried out if and when necessary and quantities can vary, the average being around 10,000t per year. The spoil material is deposited on a site licensed and approved by MAFF. 5.2.2.4 Whitehaven Harbour Whitehaven was the first harbour to be developed when it was used by the Lowther family initially to export coal from their local mines. In its day the port was the third largest in Great Britain and had a notable trade in timber, grain, tobacco and sugar. The construction of a number of piers by 1680 formed the harbour which was expanded in 1804 and again in 1822 to its present configuration. Trade was later expanded to include the export of iron ore although the harbour also supported other industries such as ropemaking and shipbuilding. Since the decline of the iron and coal industries Whitehaven has experienced dramatic decreases in the number of ship arrivals and now caters for a negligible level of commercial traffic. The harbour does however support 16 full time fishing vessels and a smaller fleet of part time boats and there are extensive plans for the redevelopment of the harbour, including the creation of a 400 berth marina within a gated dock. Navigation into the harbour is generally good, although at present access is restricted to 2½ hours either side of high tide. This will improve dramatically once the planned marina is in operation with access possible for approximately 20 out of 24 hours. No dredging operations currently take place at the harbour, although the proposed marina will necessitate maintenance dredging in the future. The harbour is currently owned by the Whitehaven Harbour Commission. 5.2.2.5 Maryport Harbour Maryport Harbour was developed by the Senhouses in the 17th Century to service the coal trade. It was expanded to meet the demands of the iron and steel industry in 1857 and again in 1884 when Elizabeth and Senhouse Docks were opened respectively. Both docks were built on reclaimed land to the south of the outfall of the river Ellen. The harbour is now operated by the Maryport Harbour Commission and supports only fishing and leisure vessels. A 200 berth marina has been established and the Bullen Consultants Limited 53 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C harbour supports a fleet of 16 full time otter and beam trawlers and around 15 part time smaller boats in addition to which Scottish boats frequently land at the harbour between spring and autumn. Navigation into the harbour is generally good, although access is restricted to 3 hours either side of high tide. No dredging operations currently take place in the harbour. 5.2.3 Navigation The Solway Firth does not naturally generate through shipping movements. Port Authorities for Workington and Silloth indicate that the vast majority of routing to and from these ports is made to Liverpool, Ireland and other destinations further south. Most vessel movements are therefore concentrated along the Cumbrian coastline. However, Workington receives a significant tonnage of round log cargo which is routed in a west east direction past the Mull of Galloway. Navigation into the ports of Workington and Silloth is generally good. For more details see section 5.2.2. One of the main reasons for the lack of any major commercial development at the head of the Solway is the difficulty in navigating the shallow channels and banks of the inner Solway, which are subject to frequent change and remain uncharted. A combination of local knowledge and frequently repositioned marker buoys is needed to ensure safe navigation along the line of the deepest channels. 5.3 Agricultural and Fisheries Interest 5.3.1 Agriculture Agriculture is an important land use along the coast within this SMP area. Much of this land is used for grazing livestock and is classed as Grade 3 (see Section 5.1.1) agricultural land. Agriculture accounts for a high proportion of employment even when compared to other rural areas in the UK. However, no exact employment figures are available for this SMP area. Agriculture also provides employment in a range of processing industries and service activities such as agricultural machinery, education and veterinary services. 5.3.2 Fisheries 5.3.2.1 This SMP area is covered by the Cumbria Sea Fisheries Committee (SFC) who have registered an area of interest from Burgh Marsh Point in the north to Haverigg Point in the south. Their interests extend from the high water mark to an extent of 6 nautical miles seaward. Fishing interests in their area include cod, whiting, flatfish, rays, haddock, salmon, sea trout, small quantities of mackerel and herring, shrimp, scallops, cockles and mussels. Methods used include otter and beam trawls, seine nets, tangle and trammel nets, haaf nets, traditional fish traps and long and handlines. A Cumbria SFC bylaw prohibits boats over 13.7m from fishing within 3 miles of the coast, other than by handlines. Visiting trawlers come from Belgium, France, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland, some of which occasionally land their catches into Whitehaven, having fished the same grounds as the local fleet. Concerns include that defences do not interfere with access routes to fishing areas and areas used for launching and retrieving fishing vessels, and that defences do not interfere with the natural geomorphology of areas which may affect fish stocks. Bullen Consultants Limited 54 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 5.3.2.2 96M477/2/C Description of coastal fisheries Whitehaven Whitehaven supports 16 full time vessels, 8 of which are over 13.7m and therefore not permitted to fish within the SFC district. In addition there are 5 part time trawlers under 10m and 3 or 4 static gear boats working pots and nets. Between May and September, the local boats are joined by vessels from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, the Isle of Man and other UK ports such as Fleetwood. This fleet can total in excess of 80 boats. Parton and Harrington There are 6 part time boats under 10m based in Harrington Harbour using nets and trawls all year round and up to 10 boats are launched from Parton beach mainly during the summer months. Workington Out of 11 trawlers only 3 are over 10m and all are involved in the same fisheries and work the same grounds as the Whitehaven and Maryport vessels. There is also a fleet of around 20 smaller boats, but with the exception of one boat these fishermen are mainly part time. Flimby Three of four beach boats are used to set trammel, gill and tangle nets. Four licences are issued for drift netting for salmon and sea trout off this coast. Maryport Most of the 16 full time otter and beam trawlers are over 12m and generally fish within the 12 mile zone. The larger boats fish further offshore during the summer, and some otter trawlers participate in the Nephrops fishery off Whitehaven. Scottish boats frequently land into Maryport between spring and autumn. Around 9 smaller boats set nets (and possibly longlines) mainly on a part time basis and 3 shrimping boats work the shallower grounds in the Solway Firth. Four or 5 boats set pots for lobsters and crabs, and 1 sets whelk pots. Allonby Rays are taken by up to 6 boats using trammel and gill nets from spring through summer, some set nets along the beach, and boats from Maryport work tangle nets for rays off Allonby, which is considered a ray breeding ground. Silloth Silloth has 5 shrimping boats (3 of which are owned by the same family) and 2 or 3 cockle dredging boats. Since the early 1990’s, some boats have also started to dredge for mussels. The 2 rivers leading into the Solway Firth (Esk and Eden) support large stocks of salmon and sea trout and in 1994, 165 licences were issued for haaf netting and 2 licences for traps (cribs) in the inner Solway. 5.4 Present Constraints 5.4.1 Legislative Constraints Bullen Consultants Limited 55 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C Legislative constraints on development in the coastal zone mostly relate to nature conservation and archaeological designations. These constraints have been dealt with in other sections of this SMP. 5.4.2 Other Constraints Specific planning policies within the Cumbria and Lake District Structure Plan (Cumbria County Council 1995) and the relevant local plans (see 5.5.2 below) covering this SMP area constrain development on the coast where appropriate. Planning policies tend to restrict development in areas which are of nature conservation value, historical and cultural value, or of economic importance. Outside of designations imposed by the statutory agencies there are also areas designated in the planning documents such as County Wildlife Sites, Conservation Areas etc. including county and local planning policies which reduce the options for development 5.5 Predicted Future Trends 5.5.1 Structure Plans The Cumbria and Lake District Structure Plan provides some insight into future development in Cumbria, although specific details regarding development in the coastal zone are limited. In general policies aim to maintain rural communities, upgrade the road network, encourage tourism development and provide land for housing and for employment development. The plan provides the main strategic planning policy for Copeland Borough Council and Allerdale Borough Council Local Plans. The plan provides a basis for more detailed proposals within Carlisle District Local Plan. The main principles of the structure plan seek to ensure that the social and economic needs of Cumbria’s people are met but in a way that does not damage the county’s environment. 5.5.2 Local Plans 5.5.2.1 Copeland Borough Council Local Plan (Deposit Version, 1994) The Copeland Local Plan has a number of general policies which will attempt to stabilise Copeland’s population, promote economic regeneration and employment, provide an efficient transport system, protect and conserve the landscape, environment and heritage and to ensure no development puts the health, safety or security of people at risk. These policies are similar to those within the Cumbria and Lake District Joint Structure Plan. In north Copeland the emphasis of the plan is on redevelopment options, particularly in Whitehaven. Support for agriculture, new woodlands and the protection of important landscapes and wildlife habitats will safeguard the open countryside coastal areas between settlements. 5.5.2.2 Allerdale Borough Council Local Plan (Deposit Version July 1997) General policies within the local plan are similar to those within the Cumbria and Lake District Joint Structure Plan. The general principles of the local plan seek to ensure new development is sustainable in terms of global impact, natural resources and local environmental quality and to cater for the development needs of people. Development likely to cause environmental harm will not be permitted unless social and economic considerations significantly outweigh environmental harm. 5.5.2.3 Carlisle District Local Plans (Deposit Draft, February 1995) The main objective of the Carlisle District Local Plan is “to continue to make the best use of the existing land resource by maximising the use for development of urban land, especially where it is vacant, derelict or contaminated, and protecting the open Bullen Consultants Limited 56 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C countryside from development that does not need to be located there, and open land of importance in urban areas. 5.5.3 Unitary Development Plans There are no unitary authorities within this SMP area. 5.6 Other Relevant Management Plans 5.6.1 Estuary Management Plans An Estuary Management Plan has been produced for the Solway Firth by the Coastal Research Group at Glasgow University. EMP’s are developed to ensure the sustainable use of estuaries. The physical processes occurring within the estuary are outlined within the EMP. It is suggested in the plan that land levels are still rising as a result of glacial unloading. The rates of accretion and erosion of saltmarsh within the estuary are examined and the potential for managed retreat options for sea defence briefly considered. 5.6.2 Catchment Management Plans/LEAPS Catchment Management Plans for catchments within this SMP area have not yet been issued. 5.6.3 Coastal Zone Management Plans A coastal zone management plan has not, as yet, been prepared for areas of the coast within this SMP study area. However, Cumbria County Council have produced a document entitled “Coastal Zone Planning and Management; Proposals for Partnership” (Cumbria County Council, 1993). 5.7 References/Bibliography Hamilton Oil Co. Ltd : The Coast of North Wales and North West England - An Environmental Appraisal. JNCC, 1996 : Coasts and Seas of the United Kingdom. Cumbria Wildlife Trust : Per. comm., RIGS Citation Notes ICC, 1993 : Ramsar Citation, the Solway Firth British Canoe Union : Per. comm English Nature, undated a: Reasons for recommendation as a possible SAC - Solway Mosses b: Reasons for recommendation as a possible SAC - Solway Firth c: A strategy for natterjack toad (Bufo Calamita) Conservation in Cumbria English Nature Response : Per Comm. Allerdale Borough Council, 1997 : Local Plan (Deposit Version) Carlisle District, 1995 : Local Plan (Deposit Draft) Bullen Consultants Limited 57 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C Copeland Borough Council, 1994: Local Plan Deposit Version. Coastal Research Group 1994 : ‘Estuaries Management Plans, Coastal Processes and Conservation, Solway Firth’, University of Glasgow Regional Tourism Strategy for Cumbria : Consultation Draft February 1997. Solway Firth Partnership 1996 : Solway Firth Review. Solway Rural Initiative Limited 1997: Solway Coast AONB Management Plan (Consultation Draft). Countryside Commission : Solway Coast Document Bullen Consultants Limited 58 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C 6.0 Coastal Defences 6.1 Coastal Defence Ownership and Responsibility 6.1.1 The apportionment of responsibility for maintenance of the coastal defences. The sea defence and coast protection structures that exist along the coastline covered by this SMP are shown in Figure 6.1 which indicates who accepts responsibility for their maintenance. It should be noted that lengths of private defences are only maintained to suit the purposes of their owners e.g. Railtrack, British Steel and are not necessarily maintained for any coast defence role that they perform. The information shown in Figure 6.1 is summarised in Table 6.1 details of coast defence surveys are contained in Appendix D. 6.1.2 Sea Defence and Coast Protection Responsibilities 6.1.2.1 The Coast Protection Act 1949 empowers maritime district councils, e.g. Allerdale Borough Council and Copeland Borough Council, as coast protection authorities (CPA) to construct works to protect land against erosion or encroachment by the sea, subject to government approval from MAFF. 6.1.2.2 The Land Drainage Act 1976, as amended by the Water Act 1989, enables works to be carried out to prevent or alleviate flooding by the sea. Such works can be undertaken by the Environment Agency, local authorities or private land owners subject to the approval of MAFF. 6.1.2.3 Figure 6.1 indicates Sea Defence or Coast Protection structures and which authority accepts responsibility for maintaining them. Unless the coast defence structure is designated as being the responsibility of the Environment Agency the structure will be coast protection, see Figure 6.1. The exception to this are the Railtrack embankments at Flimby, Harrington, Lowca and Parton and the embankment at the Port at Maryport. At these locations the structures serve as both coastal protection and sea defences. 6.2 Existing Defences 6.2.1 Location The location and form of the different coastal defences are shown as Figure 6.2 and detailed in Appendix D. 6.2.2 Condition An assessment of the condition or life expectancy of the coastal defences are shown in Figure 6.3 and detailed in Appendix D. 6.2.3 Effectiveness The effectiveness of coastal defences has been taken to mean the ability of the defence to resist coastal erosion. The estimates are shown in Figure 6.4. Bullen Consultants Limited 59 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 6.2.4 96M477/2/C Standard of Services Provided The standard of service provided by coastal defences has been taken to mean the standard of protection provided against flooding. The estimates are also shown in Figure 6.4. 6.2.5 Surveys of existing defences The existing defences along the coast covered by this SMP have been surveyed in recent years as part of two strategic assessments, namely:a) The coast protection survey (CPS) performed for MAFF in 1994. b) The Sea Defence Survey (SDS) performed for Environment Agency in 1990/91. These two surveys form the basis of the review of the coastal defences undertaken as part of this project. The relevant sheets of both surveys are reproduced in Appendix D. Additional information determined from a walk over survey and desk study for new lengths of defence works or where previous work have been upgraded is also contained in Appendix D. 6.3 Current Rates of Erosion and Accretion 6.3.1 Rates of Coastal Erosion Table 2.8 provides best estimates of rates of coastline advance or retreat for the coast under consideration. The estimates are based upon the assessment of 0.S information and the limited monitoring information available. The rates should be considered with the utmost caution given the reliability and short duration of the source data. The areas of erosion are marked in red in Figure 2.32. 6.3.2 Rates of Coastline Accretion Table 2.8 lists best estimates of accretion rates at locations along the coast where this is considered to occur. These estimates are subject to the same limitations as detailed in 6.3.1. The areas of accretion are marked in green in Figure 2.32. 6.3.3 Rates of beach losses/gains Based upon the assessment of the present day annual average littoral drift processes described in Section 2 areas of likely beach accretion and erosion are shown in Figure 2.33. Due to the lack of reliable available information it is not considered appropriate to attribute magnitudes to the rate of beach/foreshore development. The definition of the areas of erosion/accretion are based on the understanding developed during the condition of this and other studies along this length of coast. In locations where the coastline is anticipated to retreat it has been assumed that the beach will retain its present shape and form and that it will have retreated landward in parallel with the coastline. Bullen Consultants Limited 60 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 6.4 Areas at Risk from Flooding and Erosion 6.4.1 Areas at Risk from Flooding 96M477/2/C Figures 6.5 and 6.6 show the estimated limit of flooding for a 1 in 250 year flood event and a 1 in 50 year flood event for present conditions. Figures 6.7 and 6.8 show similar floods extends for the year 2040 including an allowance of 4mm/year for sea level rise. Both figures are based upon extreme sea level estimates described in Section 2 and assume that should the existing sea defence structures not be of sufficient standard to present overtopping the land behind will food to the extreme sea level. 6.4.2 Areas at Risk from Erosion Table 2.8 shows the estimated limit of coastline recession for 10, 25, 50 and 100 years into the future. These predictions are based solely on the present estimated rates of erosion/accretion detailed in Section 6.3. No account has been made of future recession rates as a result of global warming owing to the lack of knowledge. 6.4.3 Areas at Risk from Beach Loss Areas at risk from beach loss are shown in Figure 2.33. These areas have been determined based upon the maintenance of the existing coast protection structures and the maintenance of the same level of sediment supply from offshore. 6.5 Identification of Other Influences No other influences have been identified in relation to coastal defences. 6.6 Areas of Concern 6.6.1 Kells, South of Whitehaven There are concerns regarding the stability of the cliffs in this area. A report commissioned by Copeland Borough Council is due to be released and if any action is to be taken this will have to be taken into account during the preparation and subsequent revision of this SMP. 6.6.2 South Beach, Whitehaven The gabion structure which is situated above the high water mark and protects the South Beach amenity land has suffered damage during storm events and requires repair. Although the repairs are not yet urgent further storms may cause more severe damage. 6.6.3 Harrington (South) The concrete wall to the south of Harrington has been damaged due to the removal of backfill in order to form an access ramp. At the location of the ramp a section of the wall has been damaged and material has been lost from under the ramp and behind the wall. Moderate work to the wall is required to prevent further damage. Bullen Consultants Limited 61 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 6.6.4 96M477/2/C Harrington Harbour Immediately north of the harbour the coastline is susceptible to erosion and the crest level of the sea defences is relatively low. The area behind these defences, which includes an Old Peoples Home and a Sailing Club is therefore at risk. There is also concern about the structural integrity of the harbour arm which at present protects the above areas from extreme conditions from the south west. Should this structure be further damaged the risk to the coastline north of the harbour may increase. 6.6.5 Moss Bay The British Steel owned sea wall which protects their works is in poor condition and may require repairs. The softer embankments either side of the wall are susceptible to erosion, as is the derelict railway embankment between Harrington and Moss Bay. 6.6.6 Derwent Howe The plastic erosion control mattress protecting the embankment has been damaged, causing extensive erosion of the underlying material. If this erosion is allowed to continue it may ultimately undermine the rock armour and significant work is required if this is to be avoided. 6.6.7 Workington Harbour The extraction of the material accumulated behind the harbour arm may prevent an overflow into the navigation channel but also reduces the quantity available for sediment transport. It may in future be necessary to either cease the extraction operation or to return the extracted material to the foreshore north of the harbour. North of Workington at Oldside the coastal defences protecting a landfill site are suffering from erosion and overtopping and are in need of repair. 6.6.8 North of Workington Harbour The defences in this area appear to be tipped rock rather than a formal structure. This defence is in poor condition and provides little benefit. 6.6.9 Siddick The wall along this stretch of beach is being undermined revealing a gabion structure underneath. The wall supports rock armour and if undermined may fail, causing the armour to collapse. Significant works are required if this is to be prevented. 6.6.10 Seaton Lane The wall along this stretch of beach is being undermined revealing a gabion structure underneath. The wall supports rock armour and if undermined may fail, causing the armour to collapse. Significant works are required if this is to be prevented. Bullen Consultants Limited 62 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 6.6.11 96M477/2/C Siddick/Flimby The railway embankment which protects Siddick and Flimby has suffered from erosion in recent years and flooding of the area behind the railway line is a frequent problem. Access to the beach is via underpasses which are blocked during times of extreme water levels using stop logs as part of Operation Neptune. At Siddick flooding is caused by the overtopping of defences. 6.6.12 Maryport Harbour Due to extraction of material from the foreshore in the past the southern harbour revetment may still be at risk. Although the extraction operations ceased in 1994 this area should be monitored for future problems. Only one of the three groynes in this area remains in a recognisable form and few piles remain. The remaining groyne requires attention to the planking. The sea defence at the North Quay and Down Street area suffers from frequent overtopping and the condition of the defences should be monitored. Additional defences to protect the North Promenade, the entrances to the harbours and the North Quay area may be required in the future if the problem persists. 6.6.13 Maryport Golf Course and Allonby Bay Coastal erosion and flooding threatening in the main the B5300 coastal road but also the Village of Allonby and the Kinch at the Saltpans is a persistent problem in this area. The builders rubble on the foreshore at the golf club may temporarily solve the problem of erosion in this area but is unlikely to present a permanent solution. The problem is exacerbated by extraction of foreshore material which reduces the effectiveness of the coastline’s natural defences and this practice should therefore be discouraged wherever possible. 6.6.14 Dubmill Point Significant works are required on the groynes which are in poor condition. Extensive loss of planking has taken place in addition to erosion of some of the piles. Accelerated scour has taken place at the north end of the gabion wall and additional protection is required in this area to prevent further wear. 6.6.15 Beckfoot At Beckfoot the dunes decrease in size to such an extent that there is a risk of flooding to the road and possibly further inland. The foreshore to the north and south of this area is subject to a dune management scheme and the performance of this scheme should be monitored to ascertain whether any changes in strategy are necessary. 6.6.16 East Cote Significant work needs to be carried out on the timber groynes in this area which are suffering from damage to planking and erosion of piles. One groyne is severely damaged with an entire section missing. Bullen Consultants Limited 63 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 6.6.17 96M477/2/C The Grune Erosion and gravel extraction are taking their toll on this geomorphologically and environmentally important feature of the coastline and both should be prevented if possible. 6.6.18 Anthorn Although protected from extreme wave conditions by the alignment and limited fetch conditions of Moricambe Bay this area has recently suffered from extensive flooding which has cut the villages of Anthorn and Cardurnock off from the emergency services and has caused damage to privately owned boundary walls. The problem is to some extent made worse by the removal of debris and vegetation from the bank which forms a natural sea defence. In addition to this there is concern that the use of motorbikes and tractors may be causing damage which weakens the resistance of the bank to erosion. 6.6.19 Herdhill Railway Embankment The remains of the Solway Viaduct protect Bowness to a certain degree from extreme conditions, but the embankment is beginning to show signs of wear. The marsh to the west of the embankment is also suffering from erosion which may cause future problems. 6.6.20 Bowness to Port Carlisle At the eastern end of the coastal defence which protects Bowness the marsh fronting the Bowness to Port Carlisle road is suffering from erosion which may in the future threaten the road. 6.6.21 Easton Marsh - Burgh Marsh The southerly movement of the channel of the River Eden is causing the saltmarsh to be eroded and this situation should be monitored to ascertain whether there is a risk to the road further inland. 6.6.22 Mossband Hall The marsh in the area is suffering erosion due to the northward movement of the River Esk. Although at present this situation is not urgent it should nonetheless be monitored. Bullen Consultants Limited 64 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C 7.0 Shoreline Management Plan Objectives and Management Units 7.1 Shoreline Management Plan Consultation and Scoping Exercise 7.1.1 A Consultation Scoping document was prepared and issued to interested parties and organisations to advise them of the preparation of this SMP and solicit their view of principal issues and their knowledge of relevant available information. A copy of the consultation scoping document is contained in Appendix E which contains a list of all organisations which were contacted. 7.1.2 The responses received from the consultation scoping document are also contained in Appendix E and are summarised in Tables 7.1 and 7.2. Table 7.1 lists the organisations and provides details on the nature of the response received, if any. Table 7.2 summarises the key issues which were raised by each of the organisations that responded. 7.1.3 The principle concerns raised by those who responded to the consultation scoping exercise were and Access Nature Conservation Land Ownership Coastal Zone Management Coast Protection In summary most comments on these issues were concerned with preserving or enhancing the present situation or status or ensuring that a suitable strategy or framework was established to manage developments along the coastline. 7.2 Shoreline Management Plan : Objectives 7.2.1 Shoreline Management Plan Objectives are set for the shoreline covered by this SMP and reflect the principles by which the management strategy is formulated. 7.2.2 Preliminary proposals for SMP objectives were compiled after the assessment of data gathered and analysis thereof was completed. These proposals were discussed and revised by the project management group and are listed below in Items 7.2.4 and 7.2.5. 7.2.3 The SMP Objectives are divided into two basic groups, General Objectives and Specific Objectives. General objectives are fundamental to the whole of the coast covered by this SMP whilst specific objectives will only apply to the particular lengths of the coast where the topic which they relate to is of relevance. 7.2.4 General Management Objectives The following lists are general management objectives defined by Government Policy and applicable to all SMPs throughout the UK. 1. Identify areas at risk from flooding and coastal erosion in terms of human life and property. 2. The adopted Strategic Coastal Defence Policy should be:- Bullen Consultants Limited 65 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information a) sustainable in terms of the prevailing natural processes, and economic worthwhileness b) compatible with the preferred options identified for adjacent management units c) compatible with the natural processes that prevail within the sediment cell and hence the adjacent lengths of coast. 3. To sustain the long term future of the environmental resource over the coastline covered by this SMP from adverse human impacts arising from the adopted Strategic Coastal Defence Policy or scheme works in line with the EC Habitats Directive. 4. To take account of relevant county and local planning policies and inform the statutory planning process and associated coastal zone planning. 5. The Strategic Coastal Defence Policy should establish an effective monitoring and evaluation system to:a) determine any changes in coastal processes which shape the coast b) assess changes that occur to the shoreline c) improve knowledge and understanding of the coastline environment including identification of: 6. 7.2.5 96M477/2/C gaps in knowledge further research needs Improve public awareness of coastal evolution and the impact they and others can have on it. Specific Management Objectives The following list of Specific Management Objectives will be assigned to the specific lengths of the coast for which they are relevant. The lengths of coast, known as Management Units, are defined in the next section of this document. To adopt a Strategic Coastal Defence Policy which aims to sustain and where possible enhance the physical and biological environments, within and adjacent to this Management Unit, in line with relevant national legislation, e.g., bird colony and sandstone exposures. To sustain and where possible enhance the coastal landscape To address agricultural concerns relevant to Coastal Defence Policy Options To address concerns regarding the operation of Lifeboat Station’s. To address land drainage and water quality concerns that are relevant to the Coastal Defence Policy Options. The Strategic Coastal Defences Policy should reduce the risks from coastal erosion to acceptable levels thereby protecting human life and property and allay undue anxiety arising from such risk. To address concerns for the local, regional or national economy relevant to Coastal Defence Policy Options. Bullen Consultants Limited 66 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C To evaluate and where appropriate adopt policies to address any adverse impacts for port and harbour operations and facilities. 7.3 Shoreline Management Plan : Management Units 7.3.1 The total length of coastline covered by this SMP has been divided into discrete coastal elements over which there are coherent characteristics both of natural processes and land use. These elements are determined as coastal process units and land use units respectively from consideration of the findings of the earlier sections of this report and the data from which they were determined. 7.3.2 The preliminary assessment of both land use units and coastal process units are detailed in Table 7.3 based upon assessment of available data, its analysis and discussions with the project management group. Both sets of units are also shown in Figure 7.1. Bullen Consultants Limited 67 St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information Appendices 96M477/2/C St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C Table 3.1 Nature Conservation Designations Within SMP Area SITE NAME DESIGNATION MAIN FEATURES St. Bees Head SSSI RSPB Reserve Heritage Coast GCR Site Maritime cliffs* Sea cliff vegetation, colonies of fulmar, cormorant, shag, kittiwake, razorbill, guillemot and puffin. Breeding site for black guillemots. St. Bees Sandstone. Landscape value. Harrington Reservoir LNR Important for nationally declining species bullfinch, grasshopper warbler, reed bunting and spotted flycatcher. 1 pair of mute swans. Siddick Pond SSSI LNR Ornithological interest esp. waterfowl, nesting and wintering bird. Important rarities - little bunting, black tailed godwit, black-necked grebe, black tern, ruff, green sandpiper and bewick swan, Maryport Harbour SSSI Grassland and ruderal spp. Nationally rare purple or yarrow broomrape (Orobanche purpurea) (most northerly site). Important site for Small Blue Butterfly. Salta Moss SSSI Moss modified by peat working, drainage ditches and burning. Flora different to typical raised mires. Silloth Dunes and Mawbray Banks SSSI Extensive sand dune system*. Natterjack toad** and great crested newt**. Wedholme Flow SSSI Extensive lowland raised mire*. Peatland vegetation. Breeding birds. Colony of large health butterflies (Coenonympha tullia) and large damselfly is at the northern limit of its British range. Bowness Common SSSI Largest raised mire in England*. Area of active bog growth. Good range of breeding birds including sparrowhawk, curlew, snipe and sedge and grasshopper warblers. Black grouse and hen harrier. Large heath butterfly. Glasson Moss SSSI Extensive lowland raised mire (1/3 retains intact mire surface). Breeding birds, lg heath butterfly and spider Centromerus laervtaris (1 of only 4 English localities). Drumburgh moss SSSI Extensive lowland raised mire*. Breeding birds and large heath butterfly. Upper Solway Flats and Marshes SSSI Ramsar pSPA Intertidal flats and marshes*. Internationally important numbers of waterfowl (20,000) Internationally important populations of 10spp waterfowl (in winter). Nationally important wintering populations of a further 9 species. Geomorphology well developed creek systems and all 4 types of saltpan. Marsh terraces. Solway Firth pSAC Subtidal sandbanks Glasswort (Salicornia) and annual sea blite (Suaeda maritima). St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C South Solway Mosses NNR Extensive active raised mires*. Solway Mosses pSAC Active raised communities. Rockcliffe Marsh CWT managed site Extensive area of saltmarsh*, intersected by drainage creeks and lagoons. Wintering species and breeding birds. Bowness on Solway Gravel Pits CWT Reserve Recolonised old gravel pit workings. Smooth and crested newts. Breeding birds and migrant birds. Campfield Marsh RSPB Reserve Wader roosts eg. oystercatchers, knots, curlew, grey plover and bar tailed godwits. Large flocks of wildfowl e.g. wigeon. Peregrines, barn owls and pink footed geese. Solway Coast AONB Landscape value. Marine terraces, sandstone cliffs, undulating dunes, intertidal mudflats, saltmarsh and peat moss. Glasson Point RIGS Exposure of eroded drumlin continually renewed by erosion. Tom Hurd Rock RIGS Westphalian C delta top sequence. Bransty Quarries and Parton Cliffs RIGS Highly academic educational study of the coal measures. Industrial archaeology and local history of Whitehaven. Lowca Railway Bank RIGS “Permanent” exposure of coal seam and seat earths. Cunning Point RIGS Clean Westphalian A sedimentary structure. Delta sequences. Swarthy Hill RIGS Saltpans and reconstruction of a Roman Mile Fortlet. Swarthy Hill is a landform feature providing the context for these. Submerged forest nr Beckfoot RIGS Exposure of forest soil resting on what is believed to be an ancient beach. Mawbray Banks (nr Beckfoot) RIGS Cross section showing positions and nature of a raised beach formed when sea level was “25 ft” above present sea level bogs* and associated plant St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information Appendix A - Figures 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 1.2 1.3 Extent of coastline covered by this Shoreline Management Plan Coastal Responsibilities Foreshore Ownership 2.0 COASTAL PROCESS 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11a 2.11b 2.12a 2.12b 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16a 2.16b 2.17a 2.17b 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 2.31 2.32 2.33 Bathymetry of the Solway Firth and approaches O.S. Map Information Position of Coastline relative to 1865 Position of Coastline relative to 1865 Global eustatic sea levels variation Irish Sea relative sea level variation Location of Met Office wave data points, with annual average wave rose Typical wind roses Annual Return Period Significant Wave Height Mean Wave Heights and Directions Tidal Streams: Flood Tide Tidal Streams: Ebb Tide Tidal Streams SW of Scotland, Flood Tide Tidal streams SW of Scotland, Ebb Tide Near Surface residual flows Near bed residual flows Near surface residual flows: Admiralty Typical Tide Levels along Cumbrian Coast Extreme Sea Levels along Cumbrian Coast Spring tide amplitude for Irish Sea 50 year return period meteorological surge Not Used Not Used Seabed sediments Cumbria (NERC 1987) Foreshore sediments Bed grab sampling of sea bed (visual analysis) Longshore Sediment Transport Rate (m 3/year) Not Used Depression tracks for major storm surges. NW Coast Wind conditions associated with largest storm surges, Liverpool Wind conditions associated with largest storm surges, Whitehaven Location of BNFL Marine Monitoring: Sellafield Location of NWW Water Quality Monitoring Isostatic land movement for Britain, in mm/year IPCC predictions of sea-level rise (Houghton et al 1990) Estimated future coastline movement Estimated future foreshore development 3.0 NATURAL ENVIRONMENT 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Nature Conservation Designations Part 1 Natural Conservation Designations Part 2 Coastal Habitats Areas of Landscape Importance 4.0 HUMAN AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT 96M477/2/C St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 4.1 Cultural Heritage 5.0 DEVELOPMENT IN THE COASTAL ZONE 5.1 Coastal Land Use 6.0 COASTAL DEFENCES 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 Ownership/Responsibility for Coastal Defences Location and form of Coastal Defences Life expectancy of coastal defences Effectiveness and Standard of Protection of Coastal Defences Areas at risk of flooding, Present Day (1 in 250 year tide) Areas at risk of flooding, Present Day (1 in 50 year tide) Areas at risk from flooding: 2050 (a) 1 in 50 year Areas at Risk from flooding: 2050 (b) 1 in 250 year 7.0 OBJECTIVES AND MANAGEMENT UNITS 7.1 Proposed Management Units 96M477/2/C St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information Appendix B - Tables 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 1.2 Lengths (km) of coastal responsibilities and defences Lengths (km) of foreshore ownership 2.0 COASTAL PROCESSES 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Hydrographic Chart Information Historical OS Map Information Coastline recession (1924 - 1972) Source of extreme sea level predictions Offshore extreme significant wave heights estimates Rates of mean sea level rise around the Irish Sea Rates of annual maximum sea level change for the Eastern Irish Sea Typical rates of future coastline advance or retreat 3.0 NATURAL ENVIRONMENT 3.1 Conservation Interests 6.0 COASTAL DEFENCES 6.1 Length of Coastal Defence Responsibilities and Structures 7.0 OBJECTIVES AND MANAGEMENT UNITS 7.1 7.2 7.3 Consultation Scoping Exercise: List of Consultees Consultation Scoping Exercise: Key Area of Interest Proposed Management Units 96M477/2/C St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information Appendix C - Report on Walkover Survey 96M477/2/C St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 96M477/2/C Appendix D - Coastal Defence Surveys Information D1. Extract from Coast Protection Survey 1993 relevant to St. Bees to River Sark, Scottish Border, SMP D.1.1 Definition of Terms D.1.2 D.1.2.1 D.1.2.2 D.1.2.3 Copeland Borough Council Cross Sections Defence length report Defence element report D.1.3 D1.3.1 D.1.3.2 D.1.3.3 Allerdale Borough Council Cross Sections Defence length report Defence element report D2. Extracts from National Rivers Authority : Sea Defence Survey 1991/92 D.2.1 Definition of Terms D.2.2 Environment Agency D.2.2.1 D.2.2.2 D.2.2.3 Cross Sections General/condition report Maximum and minimum section defence heights D.2.3 National Rivers Authority D.2.3.1 D.2.3.2 D.2.3.3 Cross sections and photographs General/levels of services Condition/maintenance D.2.4 Local Maritime Authority D.2.4.1 D.2.4.2 D.2.4.3 Cross sections and photographs General/levels of service Condition/maintenance D.2.5 Railtrack North West D.2.5.1 D.2.5.2 General/levels of service Condition/maintenance D.2.6 Private D.2.6.1 D.2.6.2 D.2.6.3 Cross sections and photographs General/levels of services Condition/maintenance D3. Bullen Coast Defence Survey August/September 1996 D.3.1 D.3.2 Defence Lengths Defence Elements St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information D.3.1. Defence Lengths 96M477/2/C St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information 3.2 Defence Elements 96M477/2/C St Bees Head to River Sark SMP - Volume III Supporting Information Appendix E - Consultation Scoping Study Response 96M477/2/C