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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent to date by the Environment Agency on its plans to alter the nature of the Cuckmere Valley; what the budget for the preparatory stage of this project is; and if she will make a statement. [196834] Mr. Morley: The Environment Agency confirms that the budget for specialist advice during the preparatory stage of this project is £284,000, of which approximately £200,000 has been spent to date. The Environment Agency also makes allowance for internal staff costs and has budgeted £84,000 for the completion of the preparatory work, £49,000 of which has been spent to date. This figure includes costs from previous years. The work to date has involved undertaking baseline ecological surveys, landscape archaeology studies, fluvial/coastal geomorphology modelling, prediction of habitat losses and gains and recreation surveys. Much work has been completed for the western side of the valley and work is now underway for the eastern side, concluding with a preferred option. The current assessment considers the impact of any proposal on the upper reaches of the tidal Cuckmere River and follows the Government's current economic, technical and environmental appraisal guidance. Costs for the implementation phase will be established once the option which provides the most appropriate long-term solution has been identified. The natural processes within the valley are complex and need to be understood so that, when changes occur, the consequences are known and the most appropriate solution identified. Since 1998, extensive work has been undertaken with relevant local authorities, key stakeholder groups and the general public. This is due to report in the summer of 2005. Existing flood defences are reaching the end of their life and are increasingly ineffective against sea level rise. The Environment Agency spends between £30,000 and £50,000 per annum maintaining the defences in this area and ensuring that the river can adequately discharge into the sea. This is spent on recycling material from the river (carried by longshore drift) back to the western beach, and in maintaining a small number of groynes and breastwork which aim to prevent total blockage of the river.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

426 c1245-6W;426 c1249-50W; 196834

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Flood control Expenditure Surveys Ecology Landscape design River Cuckmere

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk