Protect Our Waves – Challaborough Action

Challaborough, one of the south coast’s premier waves is under threat from an ill-chosen near shore development and we urgently need your help to protect this quality wave!

There is currently an application to dump a substantial amount of rock armoury on the foreshore. However, an independent survey carried out by Halcrow predicted any erosion at this site to be negligible over the next 100 years. Unfortunately, dumping all this rock armoury could have a devastating impact on the waves at Challaborough.

The first application for the rock armoury was rejected; however, the developers are now appealing to the planning inspectorate. This is your opportunity to make sure this important wave is protected! Simple enter your name and press send and you will have sent a letter of support for the wave directly to the planning inspectorate. ACT NOW!  Any comments must be lodged by the 12th August 2011. 

As a waverider it’s imperative you take action now, before this amazing wave is lost. Sign the letter, press send and then forward to your friends, share on Facebook, tweet, blog and help Protect Our Waves.

Act Now!

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The support letter

Dear Ms Bartkowik, TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 (AS AMENDED) Site Address: 57 Marine Drive, Bigbury On Sea, Kingsbridge, TQ7 4AS Proposed development: Appeal against refusal of Resubmission of 05/2732/10/F for rock armour coastal defence Appellant's name: D&M Developments Appeal starting date: 01 July 2011 Appeal reference no: APP/K1128/A 11/2155608/NWF I wish to record my objection to this proposed development. Before summarising the grounds for my objection, please note the following passages from the Shoreline Management Plan for the area, produced by the well-respected civil engineering company, Halcrow; Short term - "The hard rock cliffs located along the eastern and western parts of this section (Challaborough Bay) have eroded very little over the long term, and this is expected to continue in the future, with negligible erosion predicted by 2025." Medium term - "The hard rock cliffs at either end of this section (Challaborough Bay) would continue to erode only very slowly between 2025 and 2055, with negligible erosion predicted over this period." Long term - "The hard rock cliffs at either end of this section (Challaborough Bay) would continue to erode only very slowly between 2055 and 2105, with negligible erosion over this period." In summary, I do not feel consent should be given to this development for the following reasons: 1. It will impose an overbearing visual impact on an important tourist destination that sits within both an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and a Coastal Conservation Zone. 2. The problem that the proposed rock armour is designed to avert was blatantly obvious prior to the construction of 57 Marine Drive. The Consulting Engineer's Report supports this. Such retrospective action is not appropriate. 3. There is no guarantee that the proposed rock armour will actually work. The Consulting Engineer's Report does not refer to any convincing long term study of the local geological environment, the local wave climate, or local sediment transport. Much of the Report is founded upon conjecture and guesswork. 4. The potential effects on surfing waves, an important recreational and tourism resource, have been treated in an inappropriately offhand manner. There is no guarantee that the surfing waves, which attract many thousands of visitors each year, will not be ruined by this rock armour, as has happened in other parts of the World. 5. As noted in the Consulting Engineer's Report, there are alternatives. "Do nothing" is cited in the Report as a perfectly viable option and, in view of the points noted above, is the correct one. 6. As one who retrieves considerable amounts of flotsam and jetsam from Challaborough Beach each year, I vehemently disagree with the Appellants' contention that, "not much rubbish will accumulate in the rock armour voids". The rock armour will inevitably accrue litter and stinking seaweed, and will become a habitat for rats on this important, "Blue Flag" tourist beach. Yours sincerely, Your name: Your email address: (we'll send you a copy of your letter) SAS Supporter

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4 Comments

• Hayden Rhodes says:

  July 28, 2011 at 10:45 am

  Hi, great work and keep doing what ever you can to protect our oceans and educating the public on how we can all help. Rock Amour can also be dangerous and an eye sore. THKS HR
• robert wood says:

  August 9, 2011 at 3:34 pm

  lived in this area for 30 yrs and was one of the first bodyboarders to enjoy its waves around the early 1980s till i moved and would like to see the beach safe for all to use for sport and pleasure and for young and old alike to challenge themselves in the surf
• Neil Thompson says:

  August 9, 2011 at 10:37 pm

  NOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!
• Byron Watkins says:

  August 10, 2011 at 2:37 am

  This has nothing to do with protection, it is purely ecconomic. It is a lot cheaper to haul rock from the site a couple of hundred metres than it would be to haul the rock a number of kilometres plus have to pay a dump fee at the end.
  Development and cost cutting is the issue here.

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