Future Seascapes

The history of the coastal margin between Beachy Head and Cooden spans six millennia. Since the English Channel basin was inundated natural forces formed and human ingenuity stabilised a barrier beach that encloses the former drowned coastal plain known as Pevensey Levels.
The outcropping Chalk, Gault and Sandstone between the Redoubt and Beachy Head underpins the civil engineering. The significant growth of the town and coastline was funded initially by the coal age followed by the oil age. Today the consequence of burning these fossil fuels is threatening this unique Seascape and six millennia of maritime cultural heritage.
Enclosing the coastline with partially submerged wave barriers and maritime energy system will enhance and preserve the existing iconic Victorian seafront and world heritage sites at Beachy Head and Pevensey Levels . The town and adjacent coastline will become more attractive to tourism and receive significant benefits from the income generated by the proposed tide and wave energy installation.
The alternative solution of effectively building a concrete wall along the coastline does not solve the issue of longshore drift and draw-down responsible for the beach losses. These will require maintaining using polluting lorries and machines to move hundreds of thousand of tons of unsuitable ballast up and along the beaches.
The current policy of re-profiling the beaches following spring high tide is resulting in some of the beaches becoming inaccessible below high water mark. Known as "Cliffing" the phenomenon is extremely rare to Eastbourne and Pevensey Bay. These features would only appear fleetingly in nature.

A significant amount of the shingle is being assimilated within the low tide zone sands and seriously impacting on the inter-tidal zone ecosystem.

The Possibilities

Maritime Energy

Maritime Energy; tide, wind, wave, and solar can all be considered maritime. Wind power appears to be the most prolific source being exploited at present. There are several economically viable solutions for generating electricity from the tide. Whilst the tide is a world wide phenomenon, is a constant and can be predicted there are not many suitable locations for economically viable installations. A unique system of generating electricity from the tidal stream is being developed, and part of the system would benefit from the installation of the PSWB. Another tried and tested concept for extracting green energy from waves is being used to develop devices that will be incorporated within the PSWB.

Protection from flooding and beach erosion

The wave energy vector, is the single force, responsible for the longshore drift and beach draw down. Removing this by installing a partially submerged wave barrier will solve the perennial problem and the need for polluting lorries and machines that underpin the current sticking plaster flood defense strategy.

Marine Ecopark

Enclosing the coastline with a barrier will create a marine lagoon environment suitable for the cultivation of sea grass. These marine flora are excellent at removing carbon from the environment. The habitat created is ideal for sea horses and many other marine species to thrive.

The protection offered by the PSWB will allow easier access for divers involved in marine science and eco-tourism.

Watersports Park

There is scope within the eastern lagoon for safe water sports activity in calm waters.

Another possibility is creating a surf park by altering the seabed profile along the approach to the PSWB,

These attractive locations will benefit the established campsites and retail outlets set up along the coastal roads.