Coastal Geography
Shore Line Management Plan (SMP): A Shoreline Management Plan
The future for Walton:
(SMP) is a high-level policy document in which the organisations that
manage the shoreline set their long-term plan. The SMP aims to identify
the best ways to manage flood and erosion risk to people and to the
developed, historic and natural environment.
None managed
(North cliffs)
The SMP is an import ant part of the Department of Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs (Defra) strategy for managing flooding and coastal
erosion. This strategy has two key aims:
 to reduce the threat of flooding and erosion to people and their
property;
 to benefit the environment, society and the economy as far as
possible, in line with the Government’s ‘sustainable development
principles’
Area in front of Naze
tower (Crag Walk)
Managed area
(South cliffs)
Policy Definitions
Hold the Line (HtL)
Advance the Line (AtL)
Managed Realignment (MR)
No Active Intervention (NAI)
Holding the defence line where it is now
Building new defences seaward of the
existing defence line
Allowing or enabling the shoreline to move,
with associated management to
control or limit the effect on land use and
environment. This can take various
forms, all characterised by managing
change, either technically, for land use or
for the environment. For the Essex and
South Suffolk SMP, two distinct types of
Managed Realignment are relevant
No further investment in coastal defences
or operations
Flatford Mill Field Centre. Registered charity no.313364
Coastal Management Policy
Area
Now - 2055
Naze cliffs north
Naze cliffs tower
Naze cliffs South
No active
intervention
Managed retreat
2055 - 2105
No active
intervention
Managed retreat
Outcome
Shoreline to
develop naturally
Erosion slowed and
managed
Hold the line
Hold the line
Erosion held at this
point
Essex and South Suffolk Shoreline management plan October 2010
Coastal Geography
Coastal Management: One of the obvious management techniques
Further Data: Using historic Google Earth images the following
employed at Walton on the Naze are the wooden Groynes, there is also
one large ‘terminal’ groyne made of a rip rap groyne surrounded by a
wooded revetment. Here is some data from an investigation looking at the
success of the groynes in preventing beach material being transported
from South to North along the shore line by Long shore drift.
measurements were made from a WW2 Pill Box which is situated near the
end of the Crag Walk on the wave cut platform at Walton, having travelled
from the top of the cliff to the beach because of slumping, to the top of the
cliff where visible erosion stops.
Height drop to beach from Groyne top / m
Wooden Groyne
North
Side
South
side
North
Side
South
side
1.38
1.39
1.43
1.43
1.44
0.5
0.56
0.76
0.8
0.87
Height drop to beach from Groyne top / m
Terminal Groyne
1.48
1.53
1.56
0.89
0.89
0.98


Distance from Cliff top in m
2000
84.80
2006
90.89
2009
93.41
2012
100.83
3.00
3.04
3.10
3.14
3.23
3.43
3.45
3.49
Calculate the overall rate of erosion if these figures are correct. Represent
this information in graphical form and use it to make predictions about the
cliff erosion at Walton in the future.
1.54
1.56
1.6
1.68
1.76
1.8
1.89
1.99
Use these useful websites to find out more:
Data Analysis: Use the data table above to answer the following.


Year
Present this data in a suitable graph
Interpret the graph to show that the groynes are successful at
slowing down the rate of long shore drift.
Use a suitable statistical analysis to show support your data and
show there is a significant difference in beach height on the North
and South side of the Wooden Groynes.
This data suggests the terminal groyne is more efficient that the
wooden ones suggest two reasons why then there are not more of
them at Walton.
Flatford Mill Field Centre. Registered charity no.313364
http://www.tendringdc.gov.uk/environment/coast-protection/coast-protectionand-flood-defence
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-12983584
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/2
89682/gean0110bred-e-e.pdf
http://www.eacg.org.uk/docs/smp8/essex&southsuffolk%20smp%20final%202.4.p
df
http://www.greensuffolk.org/about/suffolkcoastforum/shoreline-managementplans/