where there’s a will ...

I said that I would remain neutral, unbiased ... on the fence (if you wish) and I intend to do so. But that shouldn’t stop me from pointing out items that are clearly wrong or misleading. One of the problems facing the public in a situation like this are the inaccurate claims designed, it seems, to stir up sentiment, and thereby support, for a cause. Below is just such an extract from the website Lewes Conservatives dated 5th February 2008.

‘The Environment Agency plans to flood the Cuckmere Valley by breaching the embankments allowing the incoming tides to swamp the valley with seawater and by non-clearance of the river mouth, which will cause flooding upstream and will endanger the A259. When visiting the site Jason Sugarman said “This deliberate flooding will mean the loss of four footpaths in the beautiful valley which will decimate the local tourist trade. These age old meanders are a recreational and educational resource for generations of students and local families, that will be lost under mudflats.”’

Now many of statements in this piece – presented, apparently as facts – are actually just Mr Sugarman’s opinion (albeit a misinformed one ... I trust!) Please note, therefore that:

1) There is no evidence that the Environment Agency’s plans will cause flooding upstream and in fact one of the great benefits to tidal mudflats and salt marshes is their ability to act as a natural barrier against flooding. [See: RSPB Article and Intertidal Salt Marsh Survey]

2) There is no evidence that the tourist trade will be decimated (which, if I’m going to be truly pedantic means ‘reduced by 10%’ and is frequently misused by ignorant people who seem to think it means something completely different). I have heard this argument used many times and the truth of the matter is that for all we know more people might come to visit the Cuckmere after it becomes a salt marsh.

3) The meanders are silting up anyway and will disappear eventually of their own accord. Allowing the sea back in probably won’t help, but it’s not fair to blame the Environment Agency for their disappearance when keeping things as they are will result in the same outcome.