Historical artefacts like these tank traps at Cuckmere Haven could be put at risk by the Environment Agency's plan
Historic buildings dating from centuries back are likely to be lost to the sea.
A bid to have tank traps and pill boxes at Cuckmere Haven listed will not stop plans to flood the valley and turn it into mudflats, Environment Agency officials have insisted.
The agency has completed a three-month public consultation on the plan and will make a final decision will be made in June.
The preferred option is to stop maintaining existing defences, allowing the area to return to a tidal estuary.
When that happens acres of flood plain will be lost and revert to mudflats.
Within a decade the headland coastguard cottages will be lost to the sea as a result of erosion.
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Historic wartime artefacts will also disappear if the valley becomes tidal.
Alan Edgar, of campaign group Plan Sussex, wants to construct a tourism trail through the valley to attract visitors to nearby Seaford which he said was "dying on its feet".
He said: "The Cuckmere Valley is really a chronicle of history over the years. It was a decoy for Newhaven during the war and was lit at night so it would be bombed instead of the port.
"Then there are the tank traps and pill boxes and going farther back in history, to Napoleon the Third's time, the canal through the valley was constructed to get barges up to Alfriston and military personnel up to the Cuckmere Haven garrison.
"Going even farther back you have the coastguard cottages built just after the turn of the 18th Century to guard against smuggling.
"People like that history so it's our intention to put together the walking trail and the listing is part of that.
"We're trying to get what's important listed - starting with the tank traps. The dragon's tooth ones on the east side are particularly rare."
Mr Edgar has already secured the support of Seaford Town Council for his listing application to the Department for Culture Media and Sport and is waiting to hear from Cuckmere Valley Parish Council and East Sussex County Council.
But an Environment Agency spokesman said: "It is not within our duties to protect heritage even when listed.
"The known cultural heritage and potential for buried archaeology was assessed as part of our strategy work. Some of these could be damaged as the area changes and others could benefit from a more stable wet environment as they became buried in the estuary system.
"We are not in a position, or required under our duties, to preserve or mitigate against natural changes that result from our recommendation."
In a desperate bid to preserve the structures Mr Edgar has applied to Lewes and Wealden District Councils to raise the banks by one foot which would preserve the area for an additional 50 years. However, no funding has been secured for the work.
Mr Edgar added: "Returning the valley to a tidal estuary will certainly flood some of the artefacts we are talking about and could well destroy valuable archaeological remains."
But an Environment Agency spokesman said: "We can't spend flood risk money on protecting a flood plain when there are communities out there we need to protect."
Should Cuckmere haven be flooded? Join the debate below.
Does Alan Edgar still own the Golden Galleon by any chance ? I know he did some years ago)
Wouldn't be an alterior motive for this 'campaign' would there ?
Does Alan Edgar still own the Golden Galleon by any chance ? I know he did some years ago)
Wouldn't be an alterior motive for this 'campaign' would there ?
Posted by: G H Wagstaff, Peacehaven on 11:16am Wed 7 May 08
Alan Edgar was not the owner of the Golden Gallon but was Head Brewer/Bar Manager, a post he lost many years (circa 5) ago when the Gallon changed hands.
Alan Edgar was not the owner of the Golden Gallon but was Head Brewer/Bar Manager, a post he lost many years (circa 5) ago when the Gallon changed hands.
[quote][bold]G H Wagstaff[/bold] wrote:
Alan Edgar was not the owner of the Golden Gallon but was Head Brewer/Bar Manager, a post he lost many years (circa 5) ago when the Gallon changed hands.[/quote] Ok, thanks for the clarification.
(and 5 yrs is hardly 'many' )
G H Wagstaff wrote:
Alan Edgar was not the owner of the Golden Gallon but was Head Brewer/Bar Manager, a post he lost many years (circa 5) ago when the Gallon changed hands.
Posted by: Roy Hills, Heathfield on 11:20am Wed 7 May 08
This is the EA's way of cost cutting. Having wrecked the upstream Cuckmere by lack of maintenance over the last 40 years, they now propose 'to let nature take it's course'. The EA is unfit for purpose!
This is the EA's way of cost cutting. Having wrecked the upstream Cuckmere by lack of maintenance over the last 40 years, they now propose 'to let nature take it's course'. The EA is unfit for purpose!
Posted by: Dave, Wivelsfield on 11:32am Wed 7 May 08
And what about the educational value. For generations school children have studied the area due to its perfect examples ox-bow lakes, slip slopes, errosion, meanders etc etc. We'll just be left a few pictures in text books - what did that p**** Blair say, Education Education Education.
Roy - you have it spot on - unfit for purpose, but if only we could define their purpose......
And what about the educational value. For generations school children have studied the area due to its perfect examples ox-bow lakes, slip slopes, errosion, meanders etc etc. We'll just be left a few pictures in text books - what did that p**** Blair say, Education Education Education.
Roy - you have it spot on - unfit for purpose, but if only we could define their purpose......
[quote]This is the EA's way of cost cutting. Having wrecked the upstream Cuckmere by lack of maintenance over the last 40 years, they now propose 'to let nature take it's course'. The EA is unfit for purpose![/quote] The EA was founded in 1996!
This is the EA's way of cost cutting. Having wrecked the upstream Cuckmere by lack of maintenance over the last 40 years, they now propose 'to let nature take it's course'. The EA is unfit for purpose!
Posted by: well informed, Brighton on 4:11pm Wed 7 May 08
Yet again another fine collection of ill informed morons have seen fit to post comments about things they have no real knowledge of!!
Dave from wivelsfield, you say about education, ox bow lakes etc.. this was all formed when the river flowed natural and acted natural, much like what the EA want to bring back about. the Ox bow lakes are currently not even online with the Cuckmere itself. so what people are seeing is an artificial landscape as it is at present and the natural beauty is what nature created, much as it will be again if nature takes back over in the Cuckmere estuary. The EA does not have finite money, the money comes from DEFRA and as such money has to be allocated to protecting lives. Do you people who have posted negative comments want to see money which could protect lives in Seaford, Uckfield, Eastbourne and Lewes taken away? Everyone is up in arms when habitat is lost and birds and wildlife numbers decline. but when the Agency actually look to help promote this and compensate for habitat loss along the coast this still isn't good enough for people who only moan for the sake of moaning without knowing what they are moaning about (moan over..
And point to the Argus on another piece of ill written error ridden journalism, the EA do not plan on flooding anything or turning anything into mudflats either!
Yet again another fine collection of ill informed morons have seen fit to post comments about things they have no real knowledge of!!
Dave from wivelsfield, you say about education, ox bow lakes etc.. this was all formed when the river flowed natural and acted natural, much like what the EA want to bring back about. the Ox bow lakes are currently not even online with the Cuckmere itself. so what people are seeing is an artificial landscape as it is at present and the natural beauty is what nature created, much as it will be again if nature takes back over in the Cuckmere estuary. The EA does not have finite money, the money comes from DEFRA and as such money has to be allocated to protecting lives. Do you people who have posted negative comments want to see money which could protect lives in Seaford, Uckfield, Eastbourne and Lewes taken away? Everyone is up in arms when habitat is lost and birds and wildlife numbers decline. but when the Agency actually look to help promote this and compensate for habitat loss along the coast this still isn't good enough for people who only moan for the sake of moaning without knowing what they are moaning about (moan over..
And point to the Argus on another piece of ill written error ridden journalism, the EA do not plan on flooding anything or turning anything into mudflats either!
Posted by: j.western, brighton on 12:55am Thu 8 May 08
I can't help but agree with the previous comment. It's frustrating to see so many ill informed knee jerk reactionary comments to proposals of this kind. I visit Cuckmere Haven regularly and enjoy it as it is but the fact is that the coast is under increasing threat and not all areas can be maintained. The proposal is a sound and reasonable response in the light of the real alternatives.
I can't help but agree with the previous comment. It's frustrating to see so many ill informed knee jerk reactionary comments to proposals of this kind. I visit Cuckmere Haven regularly and enjoy it as it is but the fact is that the coast is under increasing threat and not all areas can be maintained. The proposal is a sound and reasonable response in the light of the real alternatives.
Hopefully the whole valley will be rescued and put back to the way nature intended,natural mud flats and tidal estuaries are the best way to cope with rising sea levels,and are very important for the environment and wildlife,many species are almost extinct(some are extinct) because of the way we have selfishly 'improved' areas like this in the past,all it did was destroy the natural (and by far the best)coping mechanism for the land and sea.
For once can the government stop listening to ill informed ignorant industry,agriculture and revenue experts,landowners,a
nd farmers,and do the right thing for important areas like this? the right thing for us,the land,and the long suffering local wildlife.
If we have to lose a few lumps of wartime concrete to do the right thing,then so be it,anyone with a little common sense knows what the long term priorities should be.
Hopefully the whole valley will be rescued and put back to the way nature intended,natural mud flats and tidal estuaries are the best way to cope with rising sea levels,and are very important for the environment and wildlife,many species are almost extinct(some are extinct) because of the way we have selfishly 'improved' areas like this in the past,all it did was destroy the natural (and by far the best)coping mechanism for the land and sea.
For once can the government stop listening to ill informed ignorant industry,agriculture and revenue experts,landowners,a
nd farmers,and do the right thing for important areas like this? the right thing for us,the land,and the long suffering local wildlife.
If we have to lose a few lumps of wartime concrete to do the right thing,then so be it,anyone with a little common sense knows what the long term priorities should be.
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