Beach Management

Process underway for managing Instow sand issue 

An action plan for better managing problems with sand build up and flooding in Instow was agreed at a recent meeting of stakeholders, 

The plan lays out the framework for executing short term actions to remove sand, which has built up as a result of winter storms, while agreeing to review/revise the existing beach management plan to address issues in the longer term. 

The meeting, held at All Saints Community Centre in the village on January 16th, included representatives from Instow Parish Council, Christie Estate, Natural England, the North Devon Biosphere, the Environment Agency, Devon County Highways and its safety contractor and North Devon District Council’s engineering team. 

Parish councillor, Eliot Johnson, who gave a report to January’s Instow parish council meeting, said, “It was refreshing and encouraging to see these various interests gathered in the same room. While there was an acknowledgement that there was no ‘silver bullet’ there was great willingness on all sides to work together to better manage the issue in the short and long term.” 

Local residents have called for action following sand movement caused by winter storms and the effects of flooding which have affected the road and residences and businesses on the seafront road. 

Meeting attendees acknowledged the complexity of the situation. Instow beach is owned in part by the Christie Estate and, as a protected SSSI site, is under the jurisdiction of Natural England, as well as being part of the North Devon Biosphere. The national importance of the beach, estuary and sand dunes means various regulations are in place to fulfill the need for sensitive management. 

Nevertheless, at the meeting, all parties agreed to the fast tracking of actions and permissions to allow for more flexibility for a short term fixed period to allow the issue to be alleviated. This process is now underway while plans are being developed and resources identified to carry out the agreed sand movement project. 

For background: The Instow beach and dunes are part of Taw Torridge Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The dunes are not only part of an important SSSI they also play a very significant role in coastal protection and coastal flood risk management. To enable the coastal dunes to carry out these important functions they require an adequate supply of sand which is why it is important to return the sand to the dunes.