Title: Minehead sea defences scheme : taming the tempestuous tides
Author: Environment Agency South West Region
Document Type: Monograph
Abstract:
The West Somerset town of Minehead is situated on the coast at the foot of North Hill, an outcrop of Exmoor. The sea defences at Minehead have existed for several hundred years. When the town was just a small hamlet, it was protected from the sea by a high beach which was backed by a natural shingle and cobble ridge. As the town grew, the ridge was gradually replaced with a masonry wall. West of the harbour, barriers, known as groynes, were also put in place and the combination of these and the new wall has contributed to a significant loss of beach material since the beginning of the 20th Century. The primary objective of this scheme is to provide flood protection. However, the Environment Agency are equally committed to ensuring that environmental issues and public concerns are fully taken into account as schemes such as this develop. In this way, potentially adverse impacts can be minimised and opportunities for mitigation can be taken.
Publisher: Environment Agency
Publication Date: [after 1997]
Publication Place: Exeter
Subject Keywords: Coasts; Flood control; Tides; History; Flood defence structures; Flood risk management; Coastal management; Civil engineering
Geographic Keywords: Minehead; Bristol Channel
Extent: 15
Permalink: http://www.environmentdata.org/archive/ealit:1018
Total file downloads: 294
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