Cuckmere Estuary Partnership

Q: May we have breakdown of alleged £18m costs and its timescale? What will the cost be of the earth embankment south of A259 and round canoe barn under option 3?

A: A breakdown of costs for all options can be found in the Environment Agency’s Cuckmere Estuary Strategy Project Appraisal Report (PAR) which is available to download from the ‘Partners’ policy documents’ page from the Resources section of this site.

The Environment Agency did not individually cost each element of Option 3, because it was clear that this option could not qualify for funding under the funding rules.

Although the Environment Agency’s Option 3 included a lengthy earth embankment, it is by no means certain that this would be required. The Partnership will consider this in development of its future management plan.

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Q: Why has it cost so much to do the study? I was told it was £600,000. Is this true? If not, what was the cost and who paid for it and in what proportions? I was also told the audit commission questioned this expenditure.

A: The Flood Risk Management Strategy that the Environment Agency has developed for Cuckmere has cost £560,000.  The strategy looks at the next 100 years to make sure that the Environment Agency understands the future implications of what they do and finds the right long-term solution.

This money has funded extensive research into improving understanding of the specific environment of the estuary and how it works, which enables them to make the best decisions about the estuary’s future. 

The money has also paid for detailed modelling, identifying options and the costs and benefits of those options and consultation with local people.

The National Audit Office (NAO) reviewed the Environment Agency’s expenditure on this strategy in 2006 and, overall, were happy with the way that the funding was used. The NAO did recommend the Agency make sure the cost benefit analysis covered all the factors and also suggested the Partnership try to bring all shades of opinion together to attempt to reach a consensus.

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Q: I am concerned that any decision will be based on economics and not on people and their priorities.

A: Given the current financial climate, it is a reality that decisions will ultimately have to be based on cost. However, by working together, we hope that we can find a solution that is cost effective and also one that meets the priorities of the majority. Working in Partnership also broadens opportunities for external funding.

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Q: We need to seek outside funding, such as a tourist levy or EU grants

A: Depending on the broad option that is chosen for the future management of the estuary, there are various opportunities for external funding, such as biodiversity grants, countryside stewardship and European grants. Once a way forward is agreed, detailed options can be costed and bids to potential external funders (including the EU) can be made.

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Q: How much does the EA spend per annum on maintaining flood defences at Seaford beach? What would be the estimated cost of dredging the meanders per year? And by whom?

A: The Environment Agency spends around £250,000 per year on Seaford beach. 

The cost of dredging the meanders is very difficult to estimate.  The minimum cost would be £150,000 per year, but this could rise to up to £1.5 million, depending on the difficulty of disposal and the nature of the site. Gaining approval for this work would be very difficult, and there would be huge volumes of silt which may change the nature of the site.

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