HOYLAKE VISION FORUM MEETING ON BEACH MANAGEMENT

ST LUKE’S CHURCH, HOYLAKE – 21 FEB 13

DIGEST OF PRESENTATIONS, QUESTIONS & COMMENTS

  1. Attendance. 160+ attendees. 146 recorded names (excludes 10 HV Committee members). 5 existing Forum members. 98 attendees requested further information.
  2. Apologies. Cllr Eddie Boult; John Percival
  3. Inroductory Remarks by Peter Edwards, HV Chairman.
  • Legal status - of Neighbourhood Plan and Forum explained under Localism Act 2012 to give local people more/better control over their neighbourhood
  • The Process – Informed ‘conversations’; ensuring everyone has a voice; seeking compromise; reaching solutions
  • Preparing the Plan – Based on HVL ‘Vision’ questionnaire results from 550 Hoylake residents; identifying issues which have clear consensus and those which don’t; further public consultations to explore difficult issues; preparing a draft Plan; seeking community views on the Plan; refinement of the Plan.
  • Future Stages – Independent scrutiny of Plan; Community referendum; if approved (50% plus 1) then Neighbourhood Plan obligatory for local authority
  • This Meeting – Excellent attendance; beach management a contentious issue with many different perspectives. Intent is to inform then discuss in order to understand what has happened, what is happening to the Hoylake beach and to develop a sustainable long-term plan for the future. The presentations aim to inform as a start to that process.
  1. Remarks by Councillor John Hale.
  • Cllr Hale had been involved in beach issues throughout his time as an elected Councillor. He gave a historical perspective on the social importance of the beach to local people. Beach management is currently subject to a Beach Management Plan (expires in 2015) under approval from Natural England which authorizes removal of the invasive Spartina grass by spraying with Roundup herbicide having withdrawn approval for digging out. This policy has been very poorly implemented in the past but the spraying had now been brought under direct Council control with more positive outcomes expected.
  • He reported that the Council’s 2013 budget (due approval on 5 March) had safeguarded funds for beach management to further the management plan.
  1. Presentation by Dr Hilary Ash, Wirral Wildlife Trust.
  • The issue of council budget cuts had brought the future management of our beaches into prominence, especially at Hoylake. Dr Ash paid tribute to coastal geomorphologist Dr Paul Rooney, of Liverpool Hope University and the UK Sand and Shingle Network for his advice.
  • During the last Ice Age, Wirral was under a thick layer of ice, which gouged out the Dee Estuary much larger than the river needs, and pressed down our bit of the earth's crust. Since the ice melted about 10,000 years ago, the Dee Estuary has been slowly filling up with sediment. The sediment (sand and mud) comes mostly from the sea, by longshore drift along the North Wales coast. Sea levels have fluctuated widely in that time and are currently rising as a result of increasing sea temperatures. Our bit of crust is slowly coming up again since the weight of ice was removed, so the net sea level rise at Liverpool is currently about 5mm pa - which does not sound much until it is looked at over a century or so.
  • Our coasts are dynamic places, always changing. Our problem is what we do about that change. For the last century many coasts have been "frozen" in place by coastal defences. Can and should this be continued?
  • To answer this, national government has put in place a "Shoreline Management Plan" (SMP), about which there were local public meetings a couple of years ago. That is now being translated into local decisions by the "Wirral Coastal Strategy", which went out to public consultation last autumn. Dr Rooney tells us that there has been a "tectonic change" in knowledge of coastal processes in the last 20 years - but we still cannot accurately predict the future from the past.
  • So what about Hoylake? The SMP decision for North Wirral is to "hold the line" ie maintain the existing hard defences for at least 50 years. After that defences may be removed at Leasowe Bay and natural sand dunes encouraged to take over. The SMP principle is to work with nature - but Liverpool Bay is not entirely natural, being affected by the canalisation of the Dee and Mersey and the dredging for the Liverpool Port approaches.
  • At Hoylake, energy of the water and sediment supply are key. The Hoyle Lake is now full of sediment. Hilbre and the East Hoyle Bank break some of the energy of the waves, tides and currents. So sand/mud is being deposited on Hoylake beach, raising its levels, and the colonisation by salt marsh grasses is the result.
  • At Parkgate, well up the Dee where energy levels are much less, mud was deposited, leading to permanent salt marsh.
  • At Red Rocks, at the end of the Dee, where things have been allowed to develop fairly naturally for the last fifteen years, a new salt marsh is rapidly turning into low sand dune on the landward side, and has been colonised by a range of plants, at least one rare moth (sandhill rustic) and the natterjack toads.
  • In Sefton, all the way from Birkdale to Marshside, coastal accretion has formed new habitats except where the Southport amenity beach is kept clear. In 2000, a report by Dr Alan Jemmett (former Dee Estuary Conservation Officer) looked at the Hoylake foreshore and provided a comprehensive report to Wirral MBC, which judged the continued removal of vegetation to be "unsustainable" on ecological and financial grounds, and recommended various trials to see what would happen if the management was changed. These were not carried out for "financial reasons".
  • Now we must consider the options again. North Wirral foreshore is internationally important for wintering birds, with many thousands there this year. How would development of salt marsh and sand dune affect them? Less feeding ground but more roosting ground? The current agreement between Natural England and WMBC runs out in 2015 and will be renegotiated over the next few years. Money is tight - is the money best spent spraying grass with herbicide and removing sand from roads and drains, or could it be used to manage the natural accretion, eg to keep open sand where an amenity beach is needed and access for RNLI and Hoylake Sailing Club? What affect would salt marsh and sand dune have on visitors and residents using the beach? Is the first step to fund some trials as Dr Jemmett recommended years ago to see what would actually form?
  • And look ahead 50-100 years. Rising sea levels may eventually wash away whatever accretion happens. Marsh/dunes would protect the sea wall until washed away. What would people living here in a century want us to do? What is best long term use of funds and what is most sustainable for both people and for wildlife?
  1. Presentation by Stewart Lowther C Env MIEEM, Environmental Consultant & Hoylake Resident.
  • Mr Lowther summarized the European directives and UK legislation which affected the North Wirral Foreshore:
  • Dir 2009/147/EC by European parliament and Council of 30 Nov 09 re conservation of wild birds – “The Birds Directive”
  • Dir 92/43/EEC of 21 May 92 re conservation of natural habitats and wild flora and fauna – “The Habitats Directive”
  • Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 brought these directives into UK law
  • Creation of Natura 2000 network of protected sites for Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for birds and Special Conservation Areas (SACs) for habitats and non bird species
  • Mersey Narrows and North Wirral Foreshore are nominated as a “potential SPA” with main priorities the bar tailed godwit and regular use by over 20,000 waders and water birds
  • The Dee Estuary is an SAC with main priorities protection of the mud/sand flatsnot covered by seawater at low tide and embryonic sand dunes
  • Duty of Protection (Reg 61)
  • Wirral Council is deemed to be a competent authority under these regulations. They must, by law, assess the implications of any plan or project for any significant effect on the site. They must consult Natural England: they may consult the public.
  • The Council can only give consent if it is certain beyond all reasonable scientific doubt that the integrity of the site will not be adversely affected
  • Recommendations:
  • At present, no one can be certain of any outcome of management plans
  • It would be unlawful for any decision to be made if there was any uncertainty
  • Need for a controlled scientific study to establish likely outcomes
  • Current management practices should continue until that study is complete
  1. Presentation by Dr Alan Jemmett, PhD MBA, Hoylake Resident
  • Dr Jemmett made it clear that he was not attending in any official capacity but as an informed local resident he hoped to make a useful contribution. He had been the author of the Beach Management Report commissioned by Wirral Council in 2002 and was now director of Mersey Environment Services providing technical advice to 6 local authorities. His key goal is to deliver positive environmental outcomes (making a difference!) and support sustainable economic development through informed decisions and longer term policy development.
  • It was important to accept the process of change so as to adopt an informed approach. The beach is a resource for ALL with seasonal variation in use : birds in winter and people in summer in a balanced co-existence.
  • The pace of change since 2000 had not been as quick as he had forecast. It was vital, therefore, to take a flexible approach backed up by good up to date information on the changing environment.
  • Coastal defence and/or erosion are also important but North Wirral Foreshore definitely needs a plan for the longer term. The beach needs to be managed within the wider context of the prevailing physical processes of sand movement and not viewed in isolation. This conversation is timely for helping to define future management. The need to comply with statutory responsibilities gives access to funds from central government and the EC.
  • There are key questions for the community to consider:
  • How best to deal with blown sand?
  • Is what we are doing effective and is it good value?
  • Are we spending too much or too little?
  • Is the beach being well managed?
  • What community action would be best?
  • Digging out the invasive Spartina grass does slow down its spread but it cannot eliminate it.
  • The beach should not be looked at in isolation as it links Hoylake Promenade with the high street and residential properties. Any proposals must be seen in the context of Red Rocks and West Kirby too.
  • Recommendations:
  • The Forum should seek a coherent, long term solution which addresses all the issues
  • Future plans should be evidence based
  • The community AND the Council must both buy in to the future plans
  • Plans should be compliant with legislation
  • Plans must be flexible,sustainable and deliverable
  1. Councillor John Hale Statement.
  2. It was important to maintain the ability to launch the Hoylake lifeboat from a central position and protect the habitat of the migrating birds.
  3. A recent meeting with Council officers had confirmed that there was uncertainty.
  4. Since Natural England had given permission for control of Spartina through spraying then he saw no reason why NE would not re-issue permission and he strongly advocated continuing the current management plan.
  5. The reported annual cost of spraying is £3600.
  6. Questions & Comments From the Floor.
  • The Chairman thanked the speakers for their informed and interesting presentations. He emphasised the need for everybody to be better informed.
  • Question: (J Hutchinson) Why had the Council not acted on Dr Jemmett’s report more than 10 years ago?

Answer: (Dr Jemmett) This was a good question for the community to press with the Council. No doubt there were resource difficulties. The Council engineers had a good understanding of the geomorphism of the foreshore but it is a big leap to achieve meaningful interventions. (Mr Lowther) There would be benefit now in a trial of sensible sample size to see what happens under different management policies. It was in everybody’s best interests for the long term that the grass should be under management. A two year lead time was not ideal and there was always the question of cost.

  • Question: (J Priest) Surely. If Natural England were doing their job, then they would require more information themselves?

Answer: (Dr Jemmett) Yes! Any changes must be evidence based. Natural England act as advisers but it is Wirral Council as the competent authority who should take the decision.

  • Comment: (Chris French) It would be very inexpensive to get post graduate students to carry out a study to give an understanding of sustainable planning.
  • Comment: (Unkown Gent) I have watched the beach change for the last 25 years! Grass management through spraying is ineffective. We need heavy moving equipment to remove the grass.
  • Comment: (Unknown Lady) No more spraying as beach is used by people, children and animals!
  • Question:(David Dunn?) Do we know the cost of removal of blown sand? This may be made worse if there is more dry sand. (Unanswered)
  • Question:(Unknown Lady) Spartina was introduced for coastal defence but is now uncontrollable in other parts of the world. It is alien and intrusive. What action can be taken?

Answer: (Dr Jemmett) Half of what is on Hoylake beach is natural salt marsh grass. Spartina is indeed very aggressive but it will not extend if exposed to sea action to seaward. The conditions at Hoylake are very different to those at Parkgate so spread of Spartina will be more limited.

  • Question: (Katie Kidd) Where else in the country has Spartina been introduced and can we learn anything from that? There are efforts to remove Japanese knotweed so why not removal of Spartina? Conservation is not just about birds but habitat too. If the beach became green what would happen to the birds. If their habitat was reduced wouldn’t they just go elsewhere? If the beach was stabilised would other grasses colonise?

Response: (Dr Ash) Spartina is a rhizomous plant so will grow from damaged roots. The coastline is totally dynamic.

  • Comment: (Chairman) Although the Council may have funding for spraying in the coming financial year, we must be concerned at what will happen if funding is withdrawn in a year’s time?
  • Question: (Unknown) Was the introduction of Spartina in the Dee Estuary in conflict with Reg 61?

Answer: Probably not at the time it was introduced.

  • Question: Unknown) If dunes are allowed to develop where is the limit of development?

Answer: Even the experts are unsure which is why more work and monitoring is needed to inform the review if the management plan.

Comment: (Loraine McKinlay) The experts here have not persuaded anyone, it is clear that nobody wants to see the grass on the beach. Is there a danger that the Spartina could spread into people’s gardens?

  • Comment: (Mandy Biagetti) In response to the previous speaker. It is not correct to say that no body wants the grass, and it is clear from the comments already made that is not a widely held view. It is also unfair to say the experts have ‘not persuaded anyone’. The experts have kindly volunteered their time and their role is not to convince the audience, their role is to set out the facts and their views and recommendations for the forum to consider. It was also misleading for Cllr Hale to say that no-one knows what would happen if the attempts to remove the grass were stopped. The experts clearly stated their views based on experienceabout what they expected would happen and Mr Lowther clearly made a series of recommendations for trial areas to examine removing the grass, in line with legislation. No one at any point said it would be an “irretrievable leap into the unknown”. It was also unhelpful for Cllr Hale to make a comparison with Lindisfarne as the expert Dr Ash clearly said it was difficult to compare the beach off the North Promenade with the beach in West Kirby and close to Red Rocks, let alone with a completely different part of the Country 20 years previously. The whole question is more complicated than just not wanting grass on the beach. It is difficult even for experts to be sure. The best way forward is a research trial. RNLI access to deep water is a red herring. The whole issue should be examined very carefully in compliance with protective legislation. In the end, it may not be for the people of Hoylake to decide as European directives will prevail.
  • Comment: (Unknown) Birds are beautiful but so is sand yachting!

Response: Sand yachting takes place outside the area used by feeding birds and approved for spraying and digging.

  • Question: (Unknown) Is there any view on the damage caused by spraying with herbicide?

Answer: It is the Council with approval from Natural England that has chosen to use Roundup after a Risk Assessment. It remains to be seen if there is a more effective control available.