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Summer 1998 20 years of Coastal Management in Sefton 1978-1998 Article by John Houston. Twenty years ago several organisations put their heads together to discuss a crisis facing the Sefton Coast. Many problems were obvious such as dead and dying woodlands, dune erosion caused by the sea, the wind and thousands of trampling feet, a loss of natural areas, a lack of visitor facilities, fires, vandalism, litter.. Following an assessment of the problems and proposals by Merseyside County Council in 1977 a formal agreement was reached in 1978 to establish the Sefton Coast Management Scheme as a voluntary partnership to draw up and implement a strategy for the coast. Today the Management Scheme continues its work to coordinate coastal management in Sefton through the publication in 1998 of the second review of the Coast Management Plan. The overall aim of the scheme has been to protect and maintain the natural values of the coast whilst encouraging public enjoyment. It is sometimes a difficult balancing act but it is one which the scheme has achieved consistently well. Initially the scheme covered the dune coast and was concerned mainly with nature conservation and recreation. Now it covers the whole coast from the docks at Seaforth to Marshside at Southport. The scope of the scheme has also extended to embrace beach management, coastal engineering issues and environmental quality. There is also a strong link between the Coast Management Plan and Sefton Council's main planning document, the Unitary Development Plan. Currently the scheme includes twelve partner organisations and is led and coordinated by Sefton Council. The cooperative approach to management has helped to give greater protection to rare wildlife and has also enabled new recreation facilities such a the coastal footpath to be established. Some achievements of the project, out of many, include; the purchase of the Formby Land Company estate by Sefton Council securing permanent access to much of Formby Point. The creation of a permanent Ranger Service for the coast by Sefton Council. the establishment by Sefton Council of Local Nature Reserves for conservation, access and education. the landscape restoration of Formby Point through the use of government grants the establishment of a coastal footpath running the length of the coast and the promotion of public transport. protection of nature through designations, coordinated strategies and funding from the European Commission's Life Nature programme. a review of beach management, and the implementation of a new zoning scheme. revitalisation of the coastal woodlands. an increase in land in protective ownership through organisation such as the National Trust. the establishment of the RSPB reserve at Marshside. The review of the Coast Management Plan sets out new targets for the next ten years and aims to keep a check on progress through annual reports. The need for a coordinated approach to coastal management in Sefton is as great as ever, although priorities have changed. The challenge for the future is to sustain many of the environmental gains that have been achieved over the past 20 years. Home Page - Top www.seftoncoast.org.uk

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