General Discussion

The draft Teignbridge Local Plan is recommending the following for the coast at Dawlish Warren

“no active intervention” is proposed, allowing the coast to evolve naturally. These areas include:

• Exe Estuary – Turf Lock to Powderham: Managed realignment in medium term – hold the line in short and long term.

• Dawlish Warren (inner side): No active intervention in the short term with uncertain thereafter.

• Dawlish Warren (all other areas): to hold the line in the short term and uncertain thereafter.

• The Point, Teignmouth – Managed realignment in the short, medium and long term through natural shoreline evolution.

• Teign Estuary – Passage House Hotel to Kingsteignton Road Bridge: Managed realignment in the medium and long term.

• Teign Estuary (south shore) Newton Abbot – Shaldon – No active intervention in medium and long term along undefended sections of coast.

• Shaldon (The Ness) to Maidencombe – no active intervention in short, medium and long term.

Here is an abridged version of an email I have recently received concerning this:

"The term “No active Intervention” means there is no protection for Dawlish Warren Beach including the spit which as you will be aware prevents flooding to not only Dawlish Warren but also many villages on the Exe Estuary.  This will not just have an impact on local businesses at Dawlish Warren, they will be lost along with the nature reserve.  It sounds like Dawlish Warren is being abandoned by the council.  Very shocking.  Worrying though that nobody seems to be aware of the implications of this statement in the proposed new local plan.

I just wanted to make you aware. 

Coincidentally. those who watch the BBC News may have seen Angela Terry talking about Great Yarmouth and Coastal Erosion this morning.  She is an environmental scientist that represents a group whose mission is to make local communities and businesses aware of statements from councils like ’no active intervention’ what they mean and the impact on their lives.  She said that it means they do nothing to protect the coastline and local residents in these areas continue to invest in their properties / businesses blissfully unaware of the implications.  She summed it up with one word “Abandoned”.

and info here on the flooding risks at Dawlish Warren and Shutterton.

https://www.getthedata.com/flood-map/dawlish-warren

https://www.devon.gov.uk/floodriskmanagement/planning-and-development/

(this link shows the Dawlish Warren critical drainage area. Click on link and then scroll down and click on Dawlish Warren)

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/devon-map-shows-impact-rising-6147817

(Click on link and then scroll down to see projected level of annual flooding at DW come 2050. Scroll down to next map and note also the projected level of flooding for further up the Exe Estuary.)

The deadline for making submissions to TDC re the draft Local Plan has been extended to 5pm Thursday 16th March 2023.