As local residents know, Hengistbury Head, located in the east of the constituency is one of the last remaining areas of greenbelt land in Bournemouth and a major tourist attraction.

But a decision by the Environment Agency to 'let nature take its course' could mean the changing high ground at the end of the peninsula could be turned into an island.

The high bank that protects the low level plane is receding year by year and a major storm would see this protective wall breached, causing the plane to flood as water spilled over. Tobias Ellwood has been campaigning hard to see that measures are taken to protect the coast line.

November 2005
Tobias Ellwood met with Nick Lyness of the Environment Agency. DEFRA rely on this agency to determine if there is a case to spend national funds to protect any coast line. The Council has prime responsibility under the Coast Protection Act 1949. However, the Environment Agency does have a duty under the Water Resources Act 1991 to protect areas against flooding. As Christchurch Bay would rise if a breach occurred, damaging many homes, the Agency acknowledges it must take a closer interest in Hengistbury Head.

DEFRA requires Councils to produce a 'Shore Line Management Plan'. The Council's present plan (now out of date) states the shoreline should be protected only up to the end of the gabions - exactly where a breach might occur.

Unfortunately a new 'shoreline management plan' which might include a bid for DEFRA support, cannot be submitted as the new form has yet to be published. Tobias Ellwood has put this point to the Environment Minister.

July 2005
Tobias Ellwood MP met with Alan Smith of English Nature to ask for support in his request to seek a grant from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs towards the cost of completing the line of groynes along the seafront which presently stop short of the Head.

If the bank was breached in a storm, it would have major impact on properties in Christchurch bay. Tobias has therefore asked for Bournemouth and Christchurch Council to work together on seeking a solution to protecting the coastline.