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The Environment Agency has given the go-ahead to £300,000 funding to investigate options for a cliff stabilisation scheme for Barton-on-Se, Hampshire. This is the first time in 20 years that New Forest District Council has secured funding related to coastal cliff instability and follows new national policy on coastal issues. NFDC officers have been working closely with the Environment Agency and the Southern Coastal Group to produce new national technical guidance on grant eligibility for cliff stabilisation works. With the new guidance in place, NFDC was quick off the mark to put it to the test by making an application for funding of scheme development at Barton-on-Sea. The funds will be used to carry out ground investigations, examine alternative methods of cliff stabilisation and build a business case for a scheme that could cost upwards of £15million. The ground investigations will be carried out over the next 12 months and will include boreholes and pumping tests to examine alternative stabilisation methods. The project is being led by Steve Cook of NFDC Coastal Group. NFDC environment portfolio holder Cllr Edward Heron, said: “I am delighted that our application for funding has been successful, this is great news for the residents of Barton-on-Sea. I hope that this success will provide residents with the confidence that we work hard as a district council to influence national policy on important local coastal issues.” The EA funding is linked closely to the Shoreline Management Plan process, which is approaching adoption stage, having been through public consultation. The proposed management policy for the frontage is managed realignment with the intent being to maintain control through defences and drainage. NFDC has attempted to attract government funding for stabilisation works at Barton-on-Sea for many years, but complications with funding arrangements have blocked numerous previous attempts. The recent effort to raise the profile of problems at sites like Barton-on-Sea was tackled at both political and officer level. Earlier this year, Cllr Heron, Cllr Fran Carpenter and Professor Andrew Bradbury met with the Secretary of State to discuss the funding problem, at a meeting facilitated by local MP Desmond Swayne.
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