Westmorland & Furness: Developing strategy to adapt to coastal change

Westmorland and Furness Council is working with the Our Future Coast project team at West Shore Park in Barrow to develop a strategy to manage and adapt to coastal change.

Funded by Defra as part of the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes, the Our Future Coast project aims to plan for and manage coastal flooding and erosion risks across fourteen case study locations in the North West, including West Shore Park in Barrow.

The council will be working with Our Future Coast, Berkeley Parks and local residents to:

• Stabilise the erosion behind the northern end of the existing rock protection and reduce risk to the park and path,
• Collect data on currents, waves and sand movement to help them plan to the future,
• Speak with residents and the public to understand their ideas and concerns and include these in upcoming studies and strategies.

With the coastline at West Shore Park currently eroding, a plan is needed for the future, said the council.

A coastal process study will be undertaken, using data being collected by the mobile radar station, and is expected to be complete in autumn this year.