Thursday, August 28, 2008
Skip Navigation LinksHome

WORK UNDERWAY AT CASTLEHAVEN

By County Press Reporter - Wednesday, September 17, 2003
WORK UNDERWAY AT CASTLEHAVEN
Reeth Bay, Castlehaven where the coastal protection scheme has started. Picture by PETER BOAM.
A SCHEME that for years has been held up by the classic property-versus-the environmentment debate, is finally underway.
Work began this week on the controversial £6 million coastal protection scheme to protect land at Castlehaven, Ventnor. The scheme is the largest of its kind ever undertaken on the Island.
Bringing a scheme to fruition has been a painstaking and lengthy process because the need to protect millions of pounds worth of property and infrastructure has had to be weighed up against environmental concerns.
The problem is that the coastal erosion, though a danger to land and property, also creates the ideal habitat for certain species of rare burrowing bees and wasps. The new scheme has been designed to try and meet both needs.
Grant aided by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the scheme was developed by the IW Council's centre for the coastal environment and was designed by consulting engineers High-Point Rendel.
Robin McInnes, the Island's coastal manager, said: "The Castlehaven scheme will provide an innovative approach to coast protection and instability management, taking account of increasing levels of risk posed by climate change."
Cllr Terry Butchers, executive spokesperson for coastal issues, said: "I am delighted that, at long last, this vital project is going ahead. Schemes of this kind form part of the council's co-ordinated strategy to protect vulnerable communities around the Island's coastline."