Brean & Berrow
Brean and Berrow are situated where the Somerset Levels meet the Severn Estuary. The Largely flat topography of the Levels continues through both Brean and Berrow. Most areas are only just above sea level, with some places below the high tide mark. For this reason, the sea defences at these locations perform a vital role. The types of sea defences vary along this coastal strip, from manmade rock armour, privately installed gables and sea walls to natural defences such as the extensive sand dunes. It is the sand dunes that make up the majority of the sea defences for this area and so coul dbe regarded as the most important.
Key Issues
Dune and Beach Management:
Currently there is no official and consistent management plan for the dunes and beach. This is because responsibility for their maintenance is undertaken voluntarily bythree separate groups; Brean Parish Council and holiday park owners along the Brean section of the beach to the north; Sedgemoor District Council and Berrow Conservation Group where Berrow Local Nature Reserve runs along the middle section of the beach; and Burnham and Berrow Golf Course for the remainder of the beach to the south. Each group has a slightly different management approach and each has done an admirable job of monitoring the beach and dunes. Their work helps to ensure the dunes remain intact and continue to provide an essential defence against high tides and storm surges.
River Axe:
The River Axe flows between Uphill Cliff and Brean Down before reaching its mouth at Weston Bay. Due to the flat topography of the surrounding area combined with the high tidal range, the river can be prone to flooding. With this in mind, high levees have been constructed along its banks and sluice gates at Bleadon which largely contain the flood risk. However, it is unclear how the defences would cope with a storm surge approaching from the north-west. This coupled with predicted sea level rise and increased storminess could lead to major flood issues in the area. The term 'back-door flooding' has been applied which means the flood waters would encroach from behind the sea defences as opposed to overtoppong them.
Infrastructure and Spreading the Message:
The huge expanse and natural beauty of the beach at Brean and Berrow is a strong draw for tourists. In the summer months up to 30 000 people spend their holidays at the many camping and caravan sites located mostly in Brean. These sites are serviced by a small access road which quickly becomes congested with tourists at the height of the hoiday season. A concern for the Pathfinder project is; what if the area was to experience a flood during this time? Of course storm weather is more likely to hit during the winter months, not in the summer. However, this does not mean it could not happen. For this reason it would be of great benefit if this risk was acknowledged and visitorsinformed of what procedures to follow if the worst scenario were to occur. We hope to work alongside holiday site owners in developing a strategy that will incorporate straightforward and realistic notices to help raise awareness.
Next Steps:
Throughout 2011 the Pathfinder project would like to assist the groups and individuals with an interest in coastal issues working at Brean and Berrow to formulate an agreed management plan for the beach and dunes. It is hoped that a uniform plan for the entire coastal strip will provide a consistent management approach that will maintain and benefit the sea defence service provided by the dunes.
