A holiday park business has taken matters into its own hands by planning to build new defences to fight off high tides and protect its site from flooding.
Bunn Leisure in Selsey was badly hit by devastating storms in March this year and the business wants to stop the same thing from happening again in the future.
The manager of the caravan leisure park, John Bunn, wants to build a
barrier behind th
e beach crest and raise the land at Toe End using clay, to prevent the risk of flooding.
"We've got a gun held to our heads. If we do not do anything we will lose this £40m business," said Mr Bunn.
"I don't know how much the works will cost. I can't see how the
government are going to fund it themselves.
"We are importing the clay on the lowest bit of ground."
The land would be raised by between two and two-and-a-half metres of
clay and will be added to the existing ground level.
This would mean the ground level would be four metres above sea level. The highest produced tide for Selsey currently is 3.6m high.
The plans have been given the thumbs-up by Selsey councillor and co-chairman of the Save Our Selsey campaign, Roland O'Brien.
"Raising the land is a good way of adapting to climate change," said Cllr O'Brien. "It's good that he is able to fund it because it's unlikely the government would fund this sort of scheme. His business contributes enormously to Selsey.
"Without it many shops could not continue because of the amount of tourists its business brings to the area."
The Environment Agency (EA) has recommended that a 'hold the line' be applied to Selsey's sea defences.
David Lowsley, senior engineer at Chichester District Council (CDC), said: "The EA is willing to work with any landowner as long as it doesn't upset its plans for the sea defences.
"Raising the land would reduce flood risk. Clay is a good source as long as it is clean and natural."
A planning application for the works was sent into CDC on September 10. A planning committee date is to be decided.
If you want to send in your response to the council or to view the plans, please quote the planning application reference number SY/08/03805/FUL.
What it all means...If the plans are approved by the council, the land would be raised by between two and two-and-a-half metres.
This would bring the total height of the ground above sea level to four metres.
The barrier proposed to be built would be made of geotextile materials – which usually are made from polyester or polypropylene.
It would be planted in the ground on the beach and act as a sill to prevent erosion of the land and prevent flooding.
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