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Have your say regarding the future of Pagham Harbour and Medmerry
1 October 2012
Nick Brooks
Area Manager - West Sussex Reserves
E-mail: nick.brooks@rspb.org.uk
Everyone with an interest in Pagham Harbour and the new nature reserve being created at Medmerry is invited to have their say regarding their draft management plans.
A drop-in day on 13 October (10am-4pm) at the RSPB’s Pagham Harbour visitor centre at Sidlesham Ferry will mark the start of a month-long public consultation.
Both sites are set to be managed by the RSPB under five-year management plans.
Pagham Harbour is a long-established and internationally important nature reserve, whose day-to-day management passed from West Sussex County Council in February this year. Medmerry is the Environment Agency’s major flood risk management project between Selsey and Bracklesham less than a mile from Pagham Harbour.
Nick Brooks, the RSPB’s West Sussex Reserves Manager, said, “ We know that lots of people care deeply about Pagham Harbour and many more are really interested to know how Medmerry will be run once it is complete. We look forward to sharing our draft plans with the local community and visitors, and hearing their views.”
The RSPB’s main job over the next five years at Pagham Harbour will be to keep the reserve on a stable footing, making sensitive improvements to habitats, paths and facilities where possible. At Medmerry, the RSPB’s key task will be looking after a whole array of exciting new habitats and public access. At both sites, continued close contact with local communities will be vital.
Both plans only cover habitat, visitor and access aspects. The responsibility for and delivery of coastal flood risk management will remain with the relevant public authorities.
The finalised plans, once people’s views have been taken into account, are due to run from April 2013 to March 2018.
People wishing to participate in the consultation can pop in to Pagham Harbour Visitor Centre on 13 October, when RSPB staff will be available to speak to, or any time until Friday 9 November to pick up the summary plans and feedback forms. The information will also be available to download online from the 13 October at www.rspb.org.uk/paghamharbour