by Sian Napier
snapier@thekmgroup.co.uk

A climate change expert has written to Canterbury City Council to voice his concern at plans for a replacement Red Spider cafe on the beach at Whitstable.

In a letter to planning officer Nick Davies, Dr Geoff Meaden, a retired lecturer in physical geography at Canterbury Christ Church University for 15 years, said having visited the site he was extremely surprised that anyone would wish to build a permanent structure in this location.

“Even without sea level rise this site is already being subject to wave attack and this can be verified by the loss of shingle over recent years,” Dr Meaden said.

He said that government reports on climate change had found that the actual rate of sea level rise had been greater than the most severe predictions.

“It is now considered that sea level rise could be an additional two metres higher than present mean levels by the end of this century,” he added.

“This means that by 2100 it can be expected that waves will be at least 2.5 metres higher than the base on which this building is to be erected.”

Dr Meaden said that if the Greater London Council decided to build a new Thames flood barrier in the Gravesend location when it was activated potential flood waters would not be able to naturally penetrate upstream along the Thames valley.

“Instead these waters would build up behind the barrier meaning that points seaward of the barrier would be liable to additional flooding,” he said.

“It must also be remembered that climate change and consequent global warming will add considerably to wind strength, storm frequency and thus to storm surges.

“As happened in 1953, this will have a very severe additional impact along shorelines along the lower Thames estuary. Councils should be planning for surge events of at least eight metres by the end of this century.”

For more on the Red Spider cafe controversy, see your Whitstable Gazette on Thursday.