2023 Archive

Erosion could see spent £100k on land Land and buildings worth more than £100,000 could be bought by a council as part of plans to tackle coastal erosion. Read more
Funding fears for shingle ridge There are fears that a coastal community could face a similar fate to Hemsby after it was announced the management of sea defences would be reviewed. Read more
Help protect communities from flooding The Environment Agency is looking for two new members to join a committee that plays a vital part in coastal management plans across Yorkshire. Read more
Bournemouth festive light trail returns Bournemouth's annual festive light trail launches later, with walk-through installations including a light tunnel and illuminated trees. Read more
Sea wall to be replaced after £750k boost A stretch of collapsed sea wall will be replaced thanks to more than £750,000, a council has said. Read more
Sea wall project to stave off flooding A pioneering research project that aims to strengthen the resilience of sea walls to coastal flooding has been launched by a UK and US collaboration. Read more
Programme to reduce flood risk and boost nature The Tees Tidelands project will reduce the risk of flooding, help nature recover and reconnect people with the River Tees estuary. Read more
Coastal residents in legal challenge to government's climate change plans A group of coastal residents and environmentalists has applied for judicial review of the National Adaptation Programme, which they claim is putting people’s lives at risk. Read more
Communities exposed to flood risks Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan is calling for greater government action to protect communities vulnerable to flooding. Read more
Coastal adaptation projects receive £6m Local authorities in south-west England have been allocated £6m to improve the resilience of communities to the effects of coastal erosion. Read more
Council’s concern over energy link Suffolk County Council has submitted a second response to proposals for an energy project which it says would affect coastal communities and the natural environment. Read more
Clash over coastal parking charges New tariffs would make Whitstable the priciest place to park on the Kent coast - and among the most expensive in the UK. Read more
Council in cash plea to save coastline Ministers are being urged to stump up more money to protect Norfolk's crumbling coastline. Read more
Village not abandoned, says MP Great Yarmouth MP Brandon Lewis denies claims that Norfolk coastal residents were abandoned after a flood defence scheme was scrapped. Read more
Coastal defences to be scrutinised The current west Norfolk coastal management policies are to be scrutinised by the borough council’s Environment and Community panel. Read more
Ramblers object to coastal diversion Isle of Wight walkers have voiced their concerns about the proposed diversion of a footpath away from the coastline and on to main roads. Read more
Village gets multi-million-pound boost A coastal village is in the running for a multi-million-pound boost after being selected for a major project that could help solve the region’s water crisis. Read more
WATCH: Villages by the Sea A BBC TV series looking at coastal villages that have often been on the front line of history is now online. Read more
Understanding coastal community needs A special event aims to address the pressing need for a deeper understanding of the complex challenges facing coastal communities in England. Read more
Council unveils town centre revamp A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the completion of three phases in the regeneration of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. Read more
Flood walls confirmed for Lowestoft A "vital" £67m scheme of works to protect a coastal town from flooding has reached an important landmark. Read more
Another stretch of coastal path opens Read more
New passport for coastal path launched A new 'passport' for walkers to stamp is attracting visitors to the Somerset coast. Read more
'Desperately needed' homes approved Nine new affordable homes are set to be built in a popular coastal community that has seen its population fall dramatically over the last decade. Read more
Seaside town 'could go bankrupt' There are fears Hastings Borough Council could face bankruptcy due to a high number of families in need of a home. Read more
Plans for charges at coastal car parks Durham County Council is consulting on proposals to introduce a £3 per day or £1 per hour parking charge for coastal car parks. Read more
Beach to host marine life safari An event encouraging people to scour a Cornish beach for hidden coastal treasures is coming to Falmouth this October half-term. Read more
Bigger fine call for water companies Canterbury City Council leader Alan Baldock says it us time ti hit water company shareholders in their pockets with much heavier fines for dumping sewage in our seas. Read more
£1bn plan for UK's 'left-behind towns' Coastal communities are among 55 towns given £20 million endowment-style funds each over 10 years to invest in local people’s priorities. Read more
Coastal projects receive £6m in funding Local authorities in the South West have been allocated £6 million in funding to improve the resilience of communities to the effects of coastal erosion and benefit the local economy,Read more Read more
Coastal communities 'good pickings' for thefts Boat owners in rural coastal communities have been targeted in a spate of thefts which have seen outboard motors taken from vessels. Read more
Clacton life expectancy '18 years lower' People living in some parts of Clacton have a life expectancy 18 years lower than in wealthier areas of Essex, a council chief has said. Read more
Land on the edge - new report released The Land on the Edge project forms a companion piece to the Lincolnshire County Council/Historic England Inns on the Edge project. Read more
Communities need transformation The symptoms of decline in coastal areas are obvious: they are poorer, sicker, more crime-ridden and poorly housed than the rest of the country. Read more
Turning the tide on health inequality Coastal communities require a more nuanced approach to improve public services and infrastructure. Read more
Minister visits pioneering coastal community Welsh climate change minister Julie James has seen first-hand work being done to protect Pembrokeshire's coastline and support Wales’ transition to Net Zero. Read more
Plea for more cash to save coastline Ministers are being urged to stump up more money to protect Norfolk's crumbling coastline Read more
£80m boost for coastal communities The government says coastal communities will benefit from over £80 million of funding to support economic growth and decarbonisation. Read more
Package to 'level up' communities Clean maritime measures to help decarbonise the UK's international shipping lanes, create new jobs and boost economic growth, says the government. Read more
Director for coastal communities centre Health inequalities expert Dr Emily Murray has been appointed as the Director of the new Centre for Coastal Communities at the University of Essex. Read more
Preparing Norfolk for coastal transition North Norfolk District Council have launched Coastwise, a new initiative to communities for climate enhanced coastal change. Read more
Coast faces ‘worse health outcomes' North Yorkshire Council’s health scrutiny committee has discussed coastal health infrastructure and funding gaps facing the expansion of primary care services. Read more
Building capacity for communities A funding programme to support local projects working to address the climate emergency in coastal areas of Wales is inviting applications. Read more
Coastal Communities Challenge Fund The Coastal Communities Challenge Fund (CCCF) offers grants between £10,000 and £50,000 to support and develop coastal communities. Read more
Wales helps Cornwall tackle homes A new shared learning agreement between Wales and Cornwall is hoped to help tackle the Cornish housing crisis. Read more
Windfarm expansion off coast accepted The application for a windfarm expansion off the Sussex coast has been accepted for examination by the government’s planning inspectorate. Read more
Ferry firm warns of challenging winter Ferry company CalMac says its winter timetable for the coming season is one of the most complex it has ever had to produce. Read more
Funding on coastal erosion revealed A west Dorset community is to receive a share of £3m to help protect itself from the sea. Read more
University offers coastal PhD The University of Lincoln is offering a PhD Studentship in coastal community health, sustainability and resilience. Read more
Book documents 40 coastal towns Author Madeleine Bunting visited 40 coastal resorts for a new book called The Seaside: England's Love Affair. Read more
Labour plan for holiday lets scheme Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves says a Labour government would introduce a holiday lets licensing scheme to stop coastal areas becoming out of season ghost towns. Read more
Flooding chaos in coastal resorts Parts of the North Yorkshire coast have been submerged under water as flash foods and sewage overflows cause chaos. Read more
Coastal village fights for independence Residents of a coastal village south of the Ribble have rejected the idea they are part of Merseyside. Read more
Parish council rebels over public toilets A parish council has voted against paying to keep open public toilets in a car park it claims makes more than £100,000 for Northumberland County Council. Read more
Town dubbed 'Notting Hill-on-sea' The revamped coastal town of Bridport has been dubbed 'Notting Hill-on-sea' by holidaying Londoners who have left glowing reviews. Read more
Council considers plan for giant mural Councillors are considering plans for a 30-metre-long seafront mural have been revealed for the Norfolk coastal town of Sheringham Read more
UK's most dangerous seaside town' Crime in a seaside village dubbed one of the UK's most dangerous has left residents too scared to venture outside at night, reports the Daily Express. Read more
Totem pole appears on coastal path Mystery surrounds a totem pole which has randomly appeared at a nature reserve in south-east England, says the BBC. Read more
Shipbuilding scheme to boost coastal communities A new shipbuilding lending scheme has been launched which could create hundreds of UK jobs and contribute hundreds of millions of pounds to the UK economy. Read more
'Endemic problems' in seaside towns A report by the house of Lords says seaside communities have continued to see a lack of progress in tackling "entrenched problems". Read more
Most popular seaside towns ranked Vacation rental company Airbnb has revealed the towns along the UK's coastline experiencing the biggest spikes in booking – and ranked them. Read more
King visits Lincolnshire coast His Majesty King Charles III visited the Lincolnshire coast as part of his first visit to the county as monarch. Read more
'Labour will make seaside great again' Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has vowed to “make seaside towns great again” as new research reveals that coastal jobs have fallen. Read more
Coastal hub transformation progressing Work to transform land into a new state-of-the-art workspace has reached a milestone. Read more
Latest stretch of Coast Path opens The new path is from Old Passage near Aust just south of the Old Severn Bridge in South Gloucestershire through to Wain’s Hill, Clevedon in North Somerset. Read more
Pollution at 'most noxious beach' Anglian Water defends the role played by its nearby sewage treatment centre, which releases 'recycled' water into a river which flows into the sea. Read more
Sewage prompts warning for swimmers Swimmers are being warned to stay out of the sea at a popular Pembrokeshire resort after reports of a sewage discharge into the water. Read more
'Migrant barge' arrives in Portland A large accommodation barge that will controversially house hundreds of asylum seekers has arrived in the south coast. Read more
Seaside town 'hollowed out' by tourists Residents say they are being driven from their seaside town by holiday rentals who have “hollowed out” their community. Read more
Council responds to holiday-let change Councillors in Filey are responding to proposals that will give local councils more control over the amount of holiday let accommodation. Read more
Councils plan to quadruple second home council tax Political leaders in Devon and Cornwall are calling for new powers to hike taxes on holiday homes amid crackdown. Read more
Westminster forgot coastal communities The political spotlight has shifted away from the plight of Britain's seaside towns, writes John Harris. Read more
Local action group funding agreed Aberdeenshire Council has agreed to provide more than £76,000 from its Coastal Communities Challenge Fund for two ongoing projects. Read more
Revealed: most affordable coastal towns New research has revealed the UK’s most affordable coastal towns for retirement, including some desirable locations. Read more
Coast to miss out on community trials A pilot project to create community networks in North Yorkshire towns and parishes won't involve any of the county's seaside resorts. Read more
Coast 'could pump £70bn into economy' Reviving manufacturing in towns and rural and coastal economies could help unlock £70billion for the economy, a think tank claims. Read more
Seafood jobs added to shortage list Fishing occupations are set to be added to the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) following recommendations from the Migration Advisory Committee. Read more
New festival celebrates coastline A new festival celebrating the delights of the Somerset coast is to be launched - in a bid to boost tourism in the county. Read more
Revealed: Most popular seaside towns More than 3,000 visitors rate the beach, attractions, scenery, value for money – and more – for over 100 UK seaside towns and villages. Read more
Satellite images reveal coastal erosion Analysis of satellite images spanning up to 25 years show how coastal eriosion is causing homes and roads to crumble into the sea. Read more
Plans to limit second and holiday homes Homeowners could need planning permission to convert their properties into short-term holiday lets under new government plans to ease the housing crisis. Read more
Second homes ‘blight’ on communities Elderly residents of coastal towns feel lonely and isolated because a holiday home boom has left them living in streets with few neighbours. Read more
Untapped potential of coastal towns The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund is promoting regional economic diversity by providing funding to businesses in coastal towns Read more
Fishing communities in biodiversity battle Fishing communities and marine life will be thrust into a battle for survival as the Scottish parliament focuses on plans for ‘no take’ zones in coastal waters. Read more
Call to scrap coastal protection plan Scotland's fishing industry has been speaking out against plans which could limit fishing in more than 10% of the country's waters. Read more
Coastal strip 'left with no defences' The Lewes District coastline is largely left without coastal defences from the worsening effects of coastal erosion. Read more
Art deco cinema forced to close down The Odeon in Weston-super-Mare is set to close down after bosses said it was "no longer viable to operate the cinema". Read more
Volunteers lead the way in litter-picking Torquay Coastal Volunteers meet regularly to care for a stretch of coastal path, including linking up with Keep Britain Tidy. Read more
Work progresses on Rothesay Pavilion Work will resume to transform Rothesay Pavilion on the Isle of Bute into a modern-day resource for residents and visitors. Read more
Bid to recognise east coast wetland Wetlands along the east coast of England have been added to the UK’s Tentative List of World Heritage sites. Read more
Coastal warning over marine zones Proposals to protect marine areas would be a "colossal blow" to coastal communities in Scotland, claim opponents. Read more
Access returns after coastal work Access to Hemsby beach in Norfolk has been restored after completion of a vital coastal defence project. Read more
Holiday let rules are ‘soul crushing’ New tourism occupancy rules affecting Wales’ holiday lets have been branded “unfair” by business owners. Read more
Artist residency on east coast Plans for an 'in residence' artist are unveiled for the North Sea Observatory in Chapel St Leonards for 12 weeks this summer. Read more
Freeport will 'level up' south coast The first chief executive of the Solent Freeport says the initiative could revitalise and help 'level up' coastal communities. Read more
Concern over coastal post offices Local councillors voice fears that coastal towns and villages becoming too reliant on Post Offices as banking go digital. Read more
Salcombe is 'most expensive town' Britain's most expensive seaside town is Salcombe in Devon - with an average house price of more than £1.2m in 2022, according to Halifax. Read more
Coastal communities celebrate Ramadan Cultural awareness of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan is growing in coastal communities, say Muslim families. Read more
Long-term strategy to boost tourism A geothermal spa and the regeneration could be round the corner as part of Bournemouth’s plans to boost tourism. Read more
Countryfile features coastline An episode of Countryfile focuses on Norfolk's beaches and investigates how storms are devouring the coastline. Read more
Second home owners being 'punished' The Welsh Government have been trying to close a loophole to stop second home owners classing their property as a business to avoid council tax. Read more
Less than a month remains for people to have their say on latest proposals for England’s marine protected areas A consultation on the proposed management of 13 marine protected areas (MPAs) will close on 28 March 2023. Read more
Play area demolished due to coastal defences A PARK along Rhyl’s promenade has been demolished while work is undertaken to improve the town’s coastal defences. Read more
Optimism for coastal communities A world-leading hydrologist is bucking authorities’ thinking on the potential abandonment of two coastal villages in Wales. Read more
Beach Awards open for nominations Annual applications are now open for Scotland's Beach Awards 2023 thanks to environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful. Read more
Transport links coastal communities A new demand responsive community bus service is set to hit the road in East Suffolk. Read more
Coastal management schemes are go North Norfolk Council has now received funding to deliver the Cromer Coastal Management scheme and to start the Mundesley Coastal Management scheme. Read more
Grand Challenge winners revealed The Royal College of Art has announced the three winners of its RCA Grand Challenge 2022/23: Engaging Communities for Generating Marine Sustainable Economies. Read more
Rural coast is SMART location Public Wi-Fi in coastal locations around Anglesey will benefit fishermen, maritime companies and coastal businesses Read more
Collaboration needed to protect coastal economy More work is needed to protect and restore the coastal and marine environment – and to enable coastal populations to thrive, says the government. Read more
Coast could bear brunt of housing plans Minehead and other coastal towns in west Somerset could bear the brunt of the district's housing growth. Read more
Communities threatened by erosion How would you feel if your home was destined to fall off a cliff? This is the reality for one Yorkshire community. Read more
Residents asked for views on erosion Residents of Norfolk and Suffolk are invited to have their say on planning policies in areas that may be affected by changes to the coastline Read more
£18.4m awarded to Cleethorpes North East Lincolnshire Council has secured more than £18.4m of Levelling Up money for the resort. Read more
Local plan review for Teignmouth No more new housing is to be recommended in Dawlish and Teignmouth before 2040, suggests a submission to update the Local Plan. Read more
£19.8m investment for Eastbourne Almost £20 million from the Levelling Up Fund will help Eastbourne become a year-round destination for visitors. Read more
£20m boost for Clacton town centre Local MP Giles Watling has welcomed news that Tendring Council's bid to build a ‘Civic Quarter’ has been successful. Read more
Councillor welcomes coastal funding Stonehaven and Lower Deeside SNP councillor Dawn Black has welcomed a new round of funding from the Coastal Communities Fund. Read more
Exhibition marks 70th flood anniversary A pop-up exhibition in Sea Palling is set to commemorate the 1953 Floods that rocked the village on their 70th anniversary. Read more
Focus on jobs for long-term coastal ill Tackling long-term health conditions in “struggling” coastal communities could help turn their fortunes around, says Lincolnshire’s health chief Read more
Council calls for better water testing Calls are being made for more government intervention to help improve water quality in coastal communities like South Tyneside. Read more
Winter seascapes in coastal exhibition A coastal artwork is displayed on a giant billboard in Sidmouth. Read more
£220,000 flood works completed Flood alleviation o reduce the risk of flooding on the coastal road network have been completed by Cumbria County Council. Read more
Flood warnings issued across Britain Homes and businesses could be flooded in parts of the UK due to heavy and widespread rain, say forecasters. Read more
Renewable energy project wins funding A university project developing heat exchange technology for marine environments called Seawarm has received £750k in support. Read more
Coastal homes delayed over phosphates A coastal town development due to take more than 800 homes has been delayed over phosphate concerns. Read more
Milestone for island's flood defences Groundwork begins on flood defence refurbishment on the Isle of Wight, part of a wider programme to reduce coastal erosion. Read more
£25m jobs boost for Freeport East Freeport East has won £25m in funding – fuelling hope of creating up to 13,500 new jobs in Suffolk and north Essex. Read more
Landfill time-bomb needs urgent action Hundreds of historic coastal landfill sites across the country are at risk of polluting Britain’s beaches and waterways, a new survey reveals. Read more
Study on ways to fix coastal economy Low job skill levels, housing affordability and pressure on health services are all challenges that must overcome. Read more
More money for coastal towns More funding for small towns and villages in Lincolnshire is being pursued as it promises an "exciting" time for the coast. Read more
Business case for flagship project The final business case in Torquay’s Town Investment Plan is due to be submitted for funding approval. Read more
Town is 'cool' alternative to Brighton The coastal town of Hastings seems to finally be getting the national recognition it deserves. Read more
National award for coastal BID A huge 3D projector in the centre of Boscombe has earned a national award for the area’s business improvement district (BID). Read more
Retail pledge for community support Scarborough's Brunswick Centre says it will continue to support the local community as redevelopment plans take shape Read more
Funding awarded to support active travel Proposals for new walking and cycling networks for several market and coastal towns will be developed in Devon. Read more
Council to buy erosion-risk homes A local authority could buy homes from residents who face losing their properties to coastal erosion. Read more
Volunteers sought to count sharks Volunteers are being recruited to identify sharks, skates and rays captured on underwater cameras around the Welsh coast. Read more