Residents question dredging experts on fears of a possible link to coastal erosion

More than 60 residents from the Holderness area packed into the SHoRes (correct) Centre on Friday evening to attend a public meeting organised by Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness.

 

They heard presentations from members of the marine aggregate industry, which is currently dredging nine miles from the coast, as well as marine environment expert Professor Mike Elliott.

 

Graham organised the event after some residents contacted him to say they feared the continued off-shore dredging is having a direct impact on the speed of erosion along the Holderness coast.

 

While both the dredging industry representatives and Prof Elliott said there was no evidence there was any correlation between the removal of sand and gravel from the seabed, however, both admitted more research could only be of assistance.

 

They said the deposits dredged from the North Sea are “fossil” deposits and once extracted they are not replaced by material from the coastal erosion. Dr Andrew Bellamy, of United Marine Dredging, told the meeting the deposits brought up during the dredging process had been laid down during the last Ice Age around 20,000 years ago. “This is not material and sediments from the coastal area,” he said.

 

Graham said: “We are all concerned by the impact of rising sea levels, global warming and the erosion of the coast, but we must make sure we understand the science before attributing blame.

 

“On the evidence I’ve seen so far it doesn’t look as though current dredging is having an impact on our coast. I would like to see more research on all the forces which are changing our coast, however, so we can have a better understanding of them and come up with measures better to protect people’s homes and businesses in a sustainable and affordable way.”

 

And he added: “I’m glad so many people came out on a Friday night to debate the subject and I want to make sure local knowledge and opinion is given greater weight as policy develops.” 

Off-shore of the Humber 482km2 of seabed is licensed for dredging. Dredging has actually taken place in 25km2 of that area producing 4.48 million tonnes of marine sand and gravel.