Latest news with #coastalprotection
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
National Trust acquires major stretch of Dorset coastline
THE National Trust has bought a major stretch of the Dorset coastline 'to protect for the nation'. Its latest acquisition is a 26-hectare strip of coastal grassland in Purbeck. The site lies between two farms already looked after by the Trust near Swanage, and is the final piece of the jigsaw in a continuous five-mile stretch in the charity's care. It will be grazed by livestock and provide room for wildlife, including rare wildflowers such as early spider orchids, and butterflies like the Lulworth skipper. The Trust says it will also improve the area for walkers, including widening the South West Coast Path to make it safer and easier to navigate. The latest acquisition means almost 900 miles of coastline in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are now protected to the generosity of the UK public, the National Trust has announced. As a result of new detailed mapping, the charity can reveal that it looks after 896 miles of coast, over 10% of the total coastline of the three countries, on behalf of the nation. The news comes on the 60th anniversary of the Trust's major coast campaign, Enterprise Neptune, which is one of the longest-running environmental campaigns in Europe, and regarded as among the most successful endeavours in the charity's 130-year history. Since its inception in 1965 to address the rising threat of overdevelopment of the coast, the campaign has raised over £114m through donations, many of which have been left as gifts in people's wills. Three quarters of the 896 miles cared for by the Trust since its founding in 1895 have been acquired through Enterprise Neptune. Hilary McGrady, Director-General of the National Trust, said: "This extraordinary coming together of public generosity over 60 years means the UK coast is one of the best protected in the world. To reach 900 miles - or almost! - is testament to everyone who has been part of this enduring campaign. "Generations of people have left gifts in their wills, or given money in memory of a loved one, or simply wanted to protect a place they love. Every donation has a reason behind it, and together they tell an incredible story about the UK public's affinity with its coastline. "It's because of this shared endeavour that we can all freely access and enjoy the White Cliffs of Dover, the inlets of Cornwall and the North Antrim coast, and our sandy Pembrokeshire beaches. In fact, it is hard to imagine what our coastline would look like without Neptune.' Recent acquisitions made by the National Trust include a former coastal golf course in Lincolnshire (2020) and a picturesque stretch of cliffs at Tintagel in Cornwall (2023). Other landmark sites saved include fields atop the White Cliffs of Dover, which were bought after an appeal backed by Dame Vera Lynn in 2017 raised £1m in just a few weeks. In recent years, the Neptune campaign has focussed on conservation, including responding to the challenges posed by climate change, such as sea level rise and extreme storms. Projects have included a major coastal adaptation scheme on Northey Island in Essex, where the creation of saltmarsh is protecting rare bird habitats from rising sea levels. However, the Trust continues to acquire areas of coast where it can make a significant contribution to restoring nature and provide access and enjoyment for people. Hilary continued: "As today's news shows, Neptune is still going strong. In fact, the current threats facing our coastline, such as rising sea levels and more extreme weather events, mean Neptune is needed as much as ever. So if people want to be involved in the next chapter of this historic campaign, we would love to talk to them.' Enterprise Neptune began in May 1965 when geography professor Dr John Whittow and a group of 33 students and three fellow teachers from Reading University set out to survey the entire coastline of England, Wales and Northern Ireland[3]. With limited technology available, the students trekked around the coast, camping in tents and painstakingly colouring-in hundreds of Ordnance Survey maps. On analysing the data, Dr Whittow found that a third of the total coastline was in pristine condition but in need of protection from encroaching development and overtourism. The National Trust launched the campaign that same year, acquiring Whiteford Burrows on the Gower Peninsula as its first purchase with Neptune funds. Back then, the site had been earmarked for landfill; today it is one of the best dune systems in Britain, supporting a range of rare and important species. Eight years later, in 1973, the campaign had reached its original £2m target and had saved over 300 miles of coast. Some stretches of coastline that were deemed 'beyond redemption' in the 1965 survey have since been bought by the Trust, with several having undergone a remarkable transformation. Stretches of the County Durham coastline (purchased 1988-90), once black with coal waste, are now home to wildflower meadows. The peninsula of Orford Ness in Suffolk (1993) was a military testing ground in the mid-20th century – today it's a thriving nature reserve filled with birds, and most recently, a colony of grey seals. In 2014, the University of Leicester repeated the original survey – albeit digitally this time – to understand how land along the coast had changed since 1965. The data revealed that of the 3,442 miles of coastline deemed 'pristine' in the original survey, 94% was now protected either by the Trust or by statutory designations. Sean Fletcher, TV presenter and National Trust Ambassador, said: 'I've visited coastal sites around the globe, and I'm always struck by how the UK's coastline stands shoulder to shoulder with the world's best. The Trust's Neptune campaign to protect our coastline has preserved some wonderful natural gems, which we can all enjoy.' The charity is encouraging people to donate to its 60-year coastal campaign by going to the webpage and selecting 'coast'.
CNA
20-05-2025
- Business
- CNA
PUB to launch guidebook to help property owners, developers enhance flood resilience
Property owners and developers can look forward to a new resource that helps them better design and plan against floods and rising sea levels. It's in the form of a guidebook, packed with practical case studies and measures to prepare for intense downpours and coastal surges. Launched by PUB, an 11-member committee made up of architects, engineers and developers will come up with recommendations by early next year. PUB chief executive Ong Tze-Ch'in and Mr Melvin Tan, immediate past president of the Singapore Institute of Architects, shared more about flood-resilient designs.
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Tycoon rants and raves in court over seawall he built outside his oceanside South Carolina mansion
A South Carolina man currently embroiled in an ongoing court battle exploded at environmental officials during arguments, insisting that the man-made seawall outside his oceanfront mansion is entirely legal. Rom Reddy, of Isle of Palms, is locked in a heated court battle over a $289,000 fine for an unauthorized seawall he built behind his beachfront property, with The South Carolina of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) arguing it violates coastal protection laws, The State reported. On Tuesday, sporting a snazzy black suit and distinguished glasses, Reddy represented himself in court - a rare move for an administrative law case. Reddy argued that he is nothing short of a law-abiding citizen, insisting he was unfairly targeted by the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services, which he claims is using regulation and enforcement to take his property. 'I understand a little bit more than the unelected bureaucrats,' Reddy said in court, according to The State. 'This is an unusual situation where we sit here with the citizens, my beautiful wife and myself... against the police power to the state and a taxpayer funded charity.' In February, the DHEC filed a temporary restraining order and petition for injunctive relief - a court order requiring a party to do or refrain from doing a specific action - against Reddy, WCBD News reported. The department subsequently issued cease-and-desist orders to Reddy, arguing that the seawall is located in a critical area. Rom Reddy (pictured in court), of Isle of Palms, is locked in a heated court battle over a $289,000 fine for an unauthorized seawall he built behind his beachfront property, with The South Carolina of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) arguing it violates coastal protection laws Now, with the court battle intensifying, the Reddy case has drawn in close scrutiny, as it could challenge state efforts to enforce beach protection laws established decades ago - all with the purpose of combating the threat of sea level rise. Rising sea levels, driven by climate change, have become a growing issue along South Carolina's coast, with Reddy's case sparking urgent debates over the impact of seawalls. South Carolina ultimately banned seawalls along the beach 36 years ago, citing their overall role in worsening erosion and obstructing public access to the shoreline. Reddy, however, argues that the state's actions infringe upon his property rights. He claimed that the state law itself allowed him to develop construction on that particular section of the beach. Further, he argued that if he is denied the use of his land due to the state's restrictions, he should be compensated for that loss. At times, the anti-government regulation advocate waved his arms and pointed at the court, emphasizing his point with dramatic flare. 'What they are doing is a descent into a total tyranny,' Reddy claimed during court. However, lawyers for the Department of Environmental Services doubled down, asserting that the issue is clear as day: Reddy built a seawall on his property, a practice that has been illegal in South Carolina for over three decades. Additionally, the state agency said that Reddy ignored repeated warnings not to build on the beach, arguing that judicial intervention is necessary to stop his unauthorized actions in the critical area. 'We're here today about a total disregard of the law,' Environmental Services lawyer Sallie Phelan said in her opening remarks, according to The State. 'We are here about two seawalls the Reddy's constructed on the beach at Isle of Palms to protect their yard, despite the department's repeated warning that it was not authorized and the department believed it to be a violation of the South Carolina coastal tidelands and wetlands law.' Battling ocean waves and state officials, Phelan accused Reddy of secretly piling clay, rocks and concrete on the beach outside his luxury home - then backing it all up with a seawall, despite a decades-old ban. Photos shown in court revealed the ocean breaching his property, flooding turf-covered yards that ultimately smashed through an aging barrier. Simply put, state regulators say the wall breaks the law. Reddy says the state has no authority over that decision. At the very heart of the drama lies this question: Where does South Carolina's beachfront control really end? While in court, Reddy asked detailed questions regarding the beach protection law as he argued that a recent change in those laws made the work he constructed at his home entirely legal. Last month, a judge agreed that the state had control over the entire beach during a preliminary ruling, according to The State. In this case, the state argued a similar point - the law gives them authority to protect all of the sandy beach, not just the areas with building restriction lines. Reddy, a steadfast supporter of President Donald Trump, claimed that either way, he was being treated unfairly - specifically in articles written by 'the fake news'. The multimillionaire media mogul has since been vocal on X, expressing his frustrations with what he calls government 'tyranny'. Earlier this week, Reddy announced on his platform that he was prepared to take on the fight. 'The unelected agency state is trying to apply a new interpretation of the regulation on property rights that would give them unlimited property rights that can vary by homeowner, depending on their judgement,' he wrote on X, referencing the SC Department of Environmental Services' coastal bureau. In another post, Reddy wrote: 'we kneel to God, not government'. 'We're going to take back what belongs to us - the money and the power,' said another. The court proceedings are expected to last throughout the week. The judge isn't expected to decide whether Reddy must cough up the $289,000 fine - or rip out his controversial seawall - until the court battle wraps up.
