Sea defences 'raise floods risk'

A study says man-made sea defences could actually be speeding up the erosion of beaches.

Of 1,000 coastal locations examined in England and Wales, nearly two-thirds were getting narrower and steeper, with the east coast severely affected.

Coastal scientists from Halcrow Ltd say they are therefore more vulnerable to flooding.

The authors claim that sea walls and promenades prevent the natural functioning of coastal environments.

Natural functioning of coasts

"With the exception of a few areas the entire length of the coast from Dungeness, through East Anglia to Flamborough Head has experienced the greatest degree of change, " it said.

The report, in the Royal Geographical Society's Geographical Journal, says steeper beaches allow more destructive waves to pound the coastlines.

The authors claim that structures such as sea walls and promenades prevent the natural functioning of coastal environments.

"If we are not to spend increasingly large amounts of money on sea defences, we need to allow more room for coastlines to function as nature intended them to."