Sea Walls (Essex) (Hansard, 28 May 2004)

§ Mr. Morley

The total length of seawalls in Essex is 275.6 miles (441km). A total of 63.77 miles has been raised and improved in the last 20 years. This equates to 23 per cent. of seawalls.

The following table details from Environment Agency data how many miles of seawall on the Essex coast have been improved in each of the last 20 years.

Financial Year	Length raised and improved (miles)
1984–85	8.86
1985–86	7.08
1986–87	2.17
1987–88	3.31
1988–89	1.88
1989–90	2.88
1990–91	3.50
1991–92	3.82
1992–93	4.63
1993–94	2.73
1994–95	5.30
1995–96	10.31
1996–97	3.00
1997–98	1.62
1998–99	2.06
1999–00	Nil
2000–01	Nil
2001–02	Nil
2002–03	0.62
2003–04	Nil
Total 1984–85—3003–04	63.77
Notes:
Only lengths that have been raised to improve resistance to overtopping are included. Face protection schemes are not included.
Maintenance repairs and drainage improvements are not included.
The length protected by the Colne Barrier has been included as length improved although the walls themselves are not raised.

The impact of saltwater flooding was considered in flood damage calculations. It was determined through the appraisal of the independent land valuation agent and through consultation with local land owners: For the application of gypsum to arable land in the first year following a flood event, a cost of £109 per hectare has been used in calculations. For desilting and digging out ditches in the first year following a flood event, a cost of £340 per hectare of arable land and grassland has been used in calculations. For replacing drainage in the first year following a flood event, a cost of £1,111 per hectare of arable land (assuming 100 per cent. drainage) and £555 per hectare of grassland (assuming 50 per cent. drainage) has been used in calculations. For additional fertilizers and sprays on arable land, a cost of £91 per acre of wheat land, and £85 per acre of oil seed rape land, has been used in calculations. For additional fertilizers and sprays on grassland, a cost of £59.50 per acre has been used in calculations. However, these costs for additional fertilizers and sprays are factored into calculations incrementally, and at different rates depending on the type of land under consideration. Four years after a hypothetical flood event on arable land, 25 per cent. of the 233W fertiliser costs and 100 per cent. of the spray costs will have been factored in; whereas the same percentages will have been factored into calculations only two years after a hypothetical flood event on grassland.

The estimated yield of wheat has not been used in calculating the land value. The land value has been calculated by an independent Essex-based land valuation agent based on the prices received during recent land sales.

The yield of wheat has been used to calculate gross margins and flood damages and is dependent on the grade of arable land. The yield for poor/medium, good/ heavy and good/ease working arable land, has been taken as 2.75, 3.50 and 3.62 tonnes per acre respectively.

As to the costs of studies, the expected total cost of those referred to is £1,450,000, broken down as follows: Roach and Crouch Estuary Strategy study—£400,000. This includes an estimated £35,000 dedicated to the Geomorphological Study for the Roach and Crouch Estuary. Colne and Blackwater Estuary Strategy study—£400,000. Stour and Orwell Estuary Strategy Study—£350,000. The Coastal Habitat Management Plan (CHAMP) for Essex formed part of a package of seven other CHAMPs (Norfolk and Suffolk, East Kent etc.)—the approximate cost for the Essex CHAMP was £ 50,000. Essex Shoreline Management Plan—approximately £250,000.