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Protective works and geological conservation

Abstract Britain’s rich heritage of internationally important geological sites is well known to engineers and geologists alike, but from time to time, the undertaking of protective works on unstable slopes or cliffs designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest bring conservationists and engineers into conflict. Many classic geological localities occur along the coastline of Britain, such as the Jurassic sequences of Dorset, the glacial and interglacial sediments of the North Norfolk Coast and the stratotypes of the Hampshire Basin. Unfortunately, many of these coastlines are inherently unstable, suffering rates of erosion of up to 2–3 m per annum. Where such cliffs occur in close proximity to areas of habitation or recreation, there is strong local pressure to find an engineered solution to the problem of coastal erosion. Traditionally, such schemes involve the construction of concrete sea walls, cliff grading and cliff drainage, leading in some instances to the obliteration of any geological interest which may formerly have existed. The Nature Conservancy Council has a direct responsibility to monitor developments which may have an effect on all SSSIs and is automatically consulted in the event of an application being made by an individual or local authority to undertake coast protection works. It must be said that only a small proportion of the total number of applications made are considered to be damaging to the network of SSSIs and in those instances, an attempt is made to negotiate a compromise which allows for the coast to be protected from further erosion, whilst safeguarding the scientific interest. Case histories are given to illustrate the range of problems which are posed by engineering works and the way in which apparent conflict of interests may be resolved.