Key Area Working Groups

In 2003 the County Council produced a report ‘Review of the Effects of Climate Change on Hampshire County Council’s Coastal Landholdings’ which assessed the implications for the County Council’s landholdings of the current policies for coastal defence, in the light of the latest available information on climate change and current environmental policies. The report concluded that for those sites where a change in current coastal defence policy would affect the delivery of its services, the implications for these sites should be examined in more depth through the establishment of working groups.

Following on from the Review four ‘Key Area Working Groups’ have been established

• Lepe to Calshot

• West Hayling Island

• Bunny Meadows/Hook-with-Warsash Local Nature Reserve

• Royal Victoria Country Park

It is hoped that a further two will be set up in the future:

• Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve

• Lymington-Keyhaven Coastal Nature Reserve.

The main purpose of each working group is to examine the implications for the County Council’s statutory functions of the relevant coastal defence policies, and to recommend the most appropriate course(s) of action for the short, medium and long term. Each group will consider the issues and options with a view to finding creative solutions that will enable the County Council services to be maintained satisfactorily whilst providing a more sustainable approach to coastal defences. This will ensure a balanced view of the County Council’s interests taking into account all relevant obligations, duties and other considerations.

The following diagram explains the process currently being undertaken for these groups.

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