Public perceptions and attitudes towards a current managed realignment scheme: Brancaster West Marsh, North Norfolk, U.K.

Abstract

With the potential threat of global climate change leading to sea-level rise, policy makers and engineers are looking towards managed realignment as a genuine attempt to provide a more sustainable coastal defence strategy. Public perceptions and attitudes towards this approach have generally indicated that it is not a favoured defence option as local residents often view managed realignment as 'giving in to the sea'. Brancaster West Marsh is the first of three ongoing studies that will attempt to identify changes in public acceptance of managed realignment and the Environment Agency (the main statutory body responsible for these works). It is hypothesised that local residents will show the most support for this type of strategy once it is fully established rather than at the inception or during the construction phases. A postal questionnaire, composed mainly of attitude statements was used to elicit resident perceptions and attitudes on the local environment, coastal flooding, coastal defence and managed realignment. Findings from the current Brancaster scheme suggest that residents who have a higher regard for the Environment Agency are generally more accepting of the scheme, however, the results could not conclusively determine whether the majority of the respondents support the scheme. Qualitative data also highlighted conflicting views among residents on the issues of sustainability, hard and soft defences, economics, the environment and consultation. This was thought to have resulted from information feedback deficiencies between the public and operating authorities. The study concludes that the information needs of local residents and access to information are integral components in the process of public understanding and should be addressed and assessed on a case-by-case basis.