The County of Northumberland lies along a coastline of
approximately 130km (81 miles), stretching from the Scottish Border
in the north to Seaton Sluice in the south. The coast has a rich
diversity in its physical form and natural environment. This
includes dramatic cliff lines, complex river estuaries, extensive
and beautiful beaches, large urban and industrial areas, and
valuable agricultural land; all of which fringe our unique
shoreline. Much of the Northumberland coastal area is
designated and protected for its natural beauty, its historical
importance and/or its natural features. This combination of
assets creates a coastline of great value, with a tourism economy
of regional importance.
For more information on the environmental and
cultural features which make our coastline unique, please see the
links at the bottom of the page.
From a coastal protection viewpoint
Northumberland County Council does not have a legal obligation to
protect any of its coastline from erosion. However, under
permissive powers, it will and does carry out works to build,
protect, maintain and refurbish defences where it’s deemed
appropriate to protect the coastal fringe from loss to erosion.
This is generally where protection is
- technically sound,
- economically viable,
- and environmentally acceptable and
sustainable
It is noted that it is impractical, and indeed
would be impossible, for the County to reduce or defend against all
erosion risk along its coastline; this is taken into account in all
of the County’s coast protection strategies. The policies which
inform the direction of the County’s coast protection work over the
foreseeable future are laid out in depth in the Northumberland and
North Tyneside Shoreline Management Plan 2 (SMP2), which was
completed in May 2009. For more information on the Northumberland
and North Tyneside Shoreline Management Plan please see the
following links. (FULL
REPORT,
NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY ONLY)
Protection work highlighted from the SMP2 can
take a number of forms. Examples performed by the County in recent
years include the recycling and movement of sand at Newbiggin Bay
to prevent beach loss (2011), and the refurbishment of the Berwick
Breakwater structure to secure the future of the provided defence
to the properties fringing the Tweed Estuary and Spittal Point
(2011).
Another key function of the Council’s Flood
and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Team is to also provide
provisional advice and guidance to those wishing to build private
defences, and also field general public enquires with regards to
coastal erosion and protection issues.
If you require any more information with
regards to the councils coastal erosion risk management work please
use the contact details below.
FCERM Team email - FCERM@Northumberland.gov.uk
Northumberland County
Council Contact Centre - 0845 600 6400
External links
Berwickshire and Northumberland
Coast European Marine Site
Environment Agency
Natural England
North East Coast
Coastal Observatory
North Tyneside Council
Northumberland
Coast Area of Outstanding Beauty
