The Department of Infrastructure is reviewing feedback from a series of community meetings held to discuss long-term options to combat harbour flooding and coastal overtopping.
 
Officers from the Department worked in partnership with flood management specialists JBA Consulting to deliver presentations in Castletown, Ramsey, Laxey and Port St Mary at the end of February. Further events will be held in the near-future, including meetings in Douglas and Peel, as part of Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne MHK’s commitment to engage local residents in the decision-making process.
 
The views of the public, together with representations from Tynwald Members and local authorities, will help to shape the Department’s proposals to reduce the social and economic impact of coastal flooding.
 
Approximately 230 people attended the four community meetings, with the vast majority supporting the view that vulnerable locations need to be adapted to meet the challenges posed by climate change.
 
The presentations featured information specific to each local area and discussions took place on the merits of options including:
 
•         Raised harbour walls
•         Set back walls
•         Tidal gates
•         Rock armour
•         Beach recharge schemes
 
Audiences in Castletown and Ramsey expressed a clear preference for a setback wall around the harbour. Several people raised issues they felt should have been considered within the scope of options and the Department has promised to take on board these positive suggestions.
 
Additional investigations will be carried out at some locations and work will take place to prioritise schemes based on a range of key criteria, including a cost/benefit analysis. The Department will also start to draw up business cases and detailed designs for further consideration.
 
Minister Gawne said: ‘The community meetings generated some mature and constructive discussions and the specialist coastal defence engineers from JBA Consulting were subjected to a healthy level of scrutiny. We have been able to gather additional local knowledge that will help to shape our proposals as we move forward. Some of the options have the potential to substantially change the character of our towns, villages and ports, so it is vital that local residents have their say.’
 
He added: ‘The Department is being proactive and exploring ways of tackling harbour flooding and coastal overtopping as part of its long-term strategic planning. We are looking at options that will protect people, properties and businesses from the impacts of climate change for the next 100 years. We will listen to the public and I would encourage people to provide feedback via their local authorities or directly to the Department.’
 
Further information about the locations considered most at risk, together with analysis of the options to address flooding and overtopping, is provided on a site-by-site basis at http://www.gov.im/coastandwave.