Dorset Coast

1. Dorset Coast Dorset Coast Case Study Land Use, Conflicts and Solutions

2. Aims • Describe how the physical environment creates opportunities for economic and social land use. • Identify the land users in and around Lulworth Cove. • Identify land use conflicts between users at Lulworth Cove. • Identify how the conflicts have been resolved. • Assess their effectiveness.

3. The Physical Landscape • Some rocks, especially the Portland Stone, are very resistant to erosion. • The weaker sands and clays, such as the Oxford Clay, are easily eroded and can retreat over one metre annually. • Because of this differential erosion, the Dorset coast is characterised by many headlands and bays, with beaches of sand or pebbles.

4. The Dorset Coast a Landscape of Bays and Headlands

5. Old Harry Rocks • Effects of the sea upon the the coast are especially well illustrated at Ballard Down. • Here, well-developed stacks,arches and caves have formed.

6. Old Harry Rocks

7. Opportunities for Land use • The Dorset Coast from Lyme Regis in the west to Highcliffe in the east. • The coastline is not only stunningly beautiful but also displays geological sections of world importance. • It boasts both a rich diversity ofwildlife and marine archaeological finds and a flourishing coastal economy World Heritage Site Bid Document An ideal opportunity to study the impact of changes in the tertiary sector.

8. Opportunities for Land Users • Tourism and Recreation. • Environmentalists - Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) • National Trust • South West Coast Path National Trail. • The M.O.D • Fisheries and Harbours. • Farmers. • Local Landowners. • Local residents.

9. Restrictions imposed by the physical environment • Landslides. • Coastal erosion puts property at risk. • Coastal Flooding.

10. Portland Bill, Christmas 2002, evidence of process and landform.

11. Lulworth CoveHONEY POT Lulworth Cove is a small bay formed by wave action eroding away the soft chalky rocks that lie behind a band of harder limestones that form the bay mouth.

12. Durdle Door South West Coastal Path Pasture for Sheep farming.

13. Where might conflicts arise? • Tourism and Recreation. • Environmentalists - Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) • National Trust • South West Coast Path National Trail. • The M.O.D • Fisheries and Harbours. • Farmers. • Local Landowners. • Local residents.

14. What attracts people to Lulworth? • It is surrounded by outstanding scenery and wildlife habitats. • Located on the South West Coastal Path. • The nearby fossil forest is an important SSSI. • The classic coastal features are of interest to students of geography and geology. • West Lulworth is a picturesque village with thatched cottages and rural ambiance. • Lulworth Castle – partially restored.

15. Lulworth Tourism Figures • About 75 000 people visit Lulworth in a year. • 35% of them come in 6 weeks during July and August. • Only 10% come during the four winter months November to February. • 95% of Lulworth’s vistors are day visitors. • Over 90% of visitors come by car or coach. • The Heritage Centre is Dorsets second most visited tourist attraction and its most visited free attraction. • The footpath between Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door is the busiest 1 mile stretch of the whole 600 mile SW Coastal Path.

16. Opportunities created by Tourism • Large numbers of visitors bring significant benefits to a rural area which traditionally relied on fishing and farming to sustain the economy. • Tourism provides substantial full time and seasonal employment. • Tourism brings revenue into the local economy. • This results is greater social stability for the local population. • Funds generated by tourism provide the Lulworth estate with capital for investment at the Cove and general estate improvements.

17. Tourists may find themselves in conflict with the following groups:- • Local people • The M.O.D • Environmentalists

18. Possible Conflicts • Congestion – the road to Lulworth Cove is narrow and it is a dead end so this part of the village has to absorb all the traffic. • Noise and Litter – The traditional character of the village is spoiled during the summer tourist months by vehicle noise and indiscriminate litter dropping. • Inconciderate parking create access problems. • General access difficulties when roads are closed. • Restrictions which the ranges impose on walkers. • Footpath erosion – This is pariculaly obvious on the path between Durdle Door and Lulworth. • Litter creates a visual pollution and threat to wildlife. • Visual Intrusion Durdle Door holiday park is unsightly and out of keeping with the landscape.

19. Locals Comments • “lots of holiday makers- the queues are bigger” • “Sometimes coaches park in the wrong place and no one can get past” • “Lots of dog poo on the beach” • “lots of people have BBQ’s which can be dangerous and start fires” • “The army range is noisy at night when tanks are firing. I don’t like soldiers with machine guns guarding the Army Camp” • “The gift shops are expensive – rip off”

20. soultion? Car Parking…. • The car park at Lulworth is surfaced in chalk rubble but • This stands out against the green landscape and it creates huge amounts of dust. • Car Parking charges are high and visitors may choose to avoid being charged by parking on sides of roads and grass verges.

21. solution? MOD • Permitting access to ranges at weekends and busy holiday periods. • Keeping roads open during the busiest holiday periods. • Noise levels associated with firing are much reduced at these times.

22. Solution? Footpath Erosion • Footpath maintenance – much work has been carried out to prevent further erosion. • This has been done by re routing paths. • Building new timber steps on the path at Durdle Door. • The existing path has been reinforced with local limestone cobbles and steps.

23. How effective? • Resurfacing encourages more walkers. • The whiteness of the path is an unnatural scar on the landscape. • Steps are unnatural and walkers often choose to avoid them by walking on the side.

24. Additional Environmentally friendly policies • Durdle Door beach is intentionally uncommercial. • Litter bins are not provided. • Climbing on the cliffs is banned. • Fossil collection is not permitted. • There are plans to visually screen the holiday park.

25. Conflict Issues • Coastal Zone Management - Issues • The management of the coastal zone is complicated by a number of issues, including: • The diverse ownership of coastal land intertidal areas; • A ‘hostile’ marine environment; • The number of competing activities within a relatively ‘narrow’ area; • Conflicting issues and activities i.e. economic vs. environment; • Over 80 Acts dealing with the regulation of activities in the coastal zone; • No current legislation that explicitly addresses coastal management; • The lack of an overview or lead agency ; • Coastal issues usually transgress political boundaries. • Coastal Zone Management in practice - Dorset: