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Policies - Shoreline Management Plans Shoreline Management Plans are a nationally adopted process to determine sustainable local coastal defence policies, and to set objectives for the future management of the shoreline. A sustainable policy is one that achieves harmony between the economy, society and the environment. It is a policy aimed at improving today's quality of life, without placing a burden on future generations or the natural world. The SMPs are based on the study of natural coastal processes and involve several stages of public consultation. DEFRA, NAW, the Environment Agency, local authorities and conservation bodies such as English Nature and the Countryside Council for Wales have developed the national guidance for preparing SMPs. This guidance and the SMPs themselves are reviewed and updated regularly to take account of new ideas and information. The objectives of SMPs are to improve our understanding of coastal processes work in partnership with all interested organisations and the public prepare a setting for the long term planning of coastal defences. A national study identified a series of coastal cells, within which sediment movements are mainly self contained. The coast from Great Orme's Head to the Solway Firth is one such cell. Five sub-cell based SMPs have been produced for this sediment cell. The Sefton Coast falls within two sub-cells, each with its own SMP. The Liverpool Bay SMP extends from Great Orme's Head to Formby Point. The Ribble Estuary SMP extends from Formby Point to the River Wyre. The SMPs identified policies for each length of coast and identified a number of recommendations in relation to further studies, research and monitoring. Policy Bootle to Seaforth Policy Crosby Marine Park to Hall Road, Crosby Policy Hall Road West to River Alt Pumping Station Policy Altcar to Birkdale Dune Coastline Policy Birkdale to Southport Coastline Recommended Studies Recommended Monitoring Coastal Defence Schemes These policies were adopted by the Council within the Coastal Defence Issues and Strategy document which went before Members in February 2000, the SMPs were formally endorsed in May 2000. The full shoreline management documents can be download from the Sefton Council Website Policy options are chosen from five possible alternatives as follows: Do-nothing No flood or coastal defence activity. Hold the existing defence line To maintain the shoreline in its present position / location. Advance the existing defence line To relocate the shoreline to seaward of its present position / location. Retreat the existing defence line To allow the shoreline to relocate landward of its present position. Natural Defence Management To work with natural processes to minimise erosion and maximise accretion. Home Page - Top www.seftoncoast.org.uk

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