Published at 12:58, Friday, 20 November 2009

PROGRESS is being made in a push to protect homes from coastal erosion.

UNDER THREAT: Residents of West Shore Park are concerned about the coastal defences at Earnse Bay. (left) Walney Chalets under threat on the seafront at Earnse Bay, Walney DENNIS SHARP REF: 0113694

By Emma Preston

Residents of Walney’s West Shore Park fear coastal erosion at Earnse Bay will eventually lead to their chalets being flooded.

Two years ago, temporary flood defences were put in place to protect the park.

Now government organisation Natural England has met with members of Barrow Borough Council and the owners of the park, Embra, to discuss how to build long term protection for the Earnse Bay residents.

Chris Lumb, marine delivery leader for Natural England said: “It was a very helpful and constructive meeting.

“There was an agreement that further works were needed to be done to protect the area.

“The owner is going to go away and look at the proposals to see what needs doing.”

Barrow Borough Council leader Jack Richardson is pleased with the progress.

He said: “Up until now, it seems they’ve been willing to let nature take its course. They seemed to take the view that these aren’t permanent dwellings, and I think to suggest that families who have lived there for 20, 30 years aren’t there permanently is a little naive. If there’s been a change I’d be extremely pleased. We’ve been pushing for this for some considerable time.”

Past work carried out by council contractors to draw up a coastal defence scheme had to be scrapped because of a Natural England ruling.

The public body said a rare vegetated shingle that grows on the beach makes it a protected area, so building flood barriers there would be inappropriate.

Now Mr Lumb says the progress of permanent flood protection plans depends on finding a sustainable way of building the defences.

He said: “The council are responsible for coastal protection practices, we’re a consultee. We’re working to try and agree some protection which will protect the people and protect the natural environment. The three groups need to find a satisfactory way to do that.”

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk