Global Warming Threatens Entire Fylde Coastline

John Woodman

The very real threat of sea level rise from melting ice sheets and glaciers has brought sharply into focus impact on coastal land, more particularly for the UK, surrounded as it is by the sea. It should come as no surprise to encounter online projections from eminent organisations of the consequences for Blackpool and the Fylde for coastal flooding on a massive scale. Even on the more modest projections of average sea level rise during the next two decades much of the Fylde's present coastline will be submerged along with contiguous land, both north and south of Blackpool

For planners the increase in global warming makes grim reading. Much of the Fylde is susceptible to a rise in sea levels - particularly north of Norbreck and swathes of the coast to the south of central Blackpool. The Fylde will experience ingress of sea to the extent that land north of Cleveleys will eventually become totally submerged if present forecasts on global warming and melting icecaps are realised over the next decades. While Blackpool's southern districts will equally be impacted - clearly of major consequence insofar as the airport, rail line; and naturally the tram depot, bravely positioned as it is on the very edge of the coastline at Starr Gate,

A two per cent rise in average global temperature seems increasingly likely whether or not the Mayor of London's extension of car emission limits to vehicle use takes hold. An exercise in tilting at windmills. For local developers of houses plotting more schemes to render green sites becoming swathes of new estates - a mandatory warning to prospective buyers of the consequence of sea level rise in this part of the world should become a necessary part of any ongoing transaction. The exposure of houses more recently built along Clifton Drive facing sandhills as the natural defence from encroaching tides is far from encouraging. (for homeowners). Real estate values in the Fylde will be increasingly influenced by future sea rise projections - given the inability of property owners to sell sites in areas identified as high or higher risk from coastal flooding.

An examination online of various websites dealing with climate change and more specifically projected sea level rise for the UK coastline both near and medium term decades makes sobering viewing.