The Arguments For and Against Coastal Protection Schemes :: Papers

The Arguments For and Against Coastal Protection Schemes The sea is constantly eroding the coastline. This destroys property, and people living nearby have reduced value on their houses. Natural beauty spots and walks are lost, reducing tourism in seaside towns. Solutions to this are coastal protection schemes that slow the waves down and delay the process of erosion on the cliffs. The arguments for sea defence schemes are as followsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Sea protection plans help to prevent further loss of economy caused by coastal erosion, for example; reduced property prices in 'at-risk' areas, less tourism due to destruction of tourist spots (which results in less money), and the replacement of important sites e.g.: industrial areas, ports and places of historical and geological interest would be expensive. Coastal protection schemes protect the habitats of plant and wildlife, which cannot be replaced. The arguments against sea defence schemes areà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Most sea defence schemes are expensive to build and maintain, and this money is taken from taxpayers. Some people say their money is wasted, because the coastal defences themselves will eventually be eroded away. Coastal defences create visual pollution, and ruin the natural atmosphere of the beach. Also, if they are poorly maintained, they may pose a hazard to swimmers and sunbathers. Methods of protecting the coast are: Sea wall. This is a barrier that reflects the waves and withstands storms, completely protecting the cliff. Although they effectively reduce erosion, they are costly at  £6000 per metre, and spoil the natural view of the coast. Beach Re-building. The sand on a beach inhibits the sea from eroding the coast as much, by absorbing some energy from the waves as they hit the shore and slows them down as they go up the slope to the cliff. This costs  £3 per cubic metre. Groynes are small walls that jut out into the sea to stop the sand (that protects the cliff) being washed away. These cost  £10000 each. But as groynes collect sand to stop it from being carried away, the amount of sand on the other side of the