Dorset Coast Forum and South West Flood and Coastal are launching a series of engagement drop-in events to help produce a Cliff Management guide for the BCP Council area – a new resource designed to support residents living near the area’s iconic cliffs.
The Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole coastline boasts some of the most beautiful and dynamic cliff landscapes in the UK. Effective management is crucial to ensure safety and environmental sustainability.
The new guide will raise awareness about cliff erosion and provide practical advice and other essential information for landowners, homeowners, businesses, or residents who manage privately owned cliffs.
To help produce the new cliff management guide, Dorset Coast Forum are hosting a number of engagement events to listen and understand comments, views and questions. We’d like to hear about how cliff erosion impacts people who live and work on the coast. Engagement will run during June and July with the results fed back to the South West Flood and Coastal team (hosted by BCP Council).
Cllr Andy Hadley Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy, at BCP Council said:
“The sea cliffs across the BCP area are a striking feature of our beautiful coastline and many of them are Sites of Special Scientific Interest. As well as managing erosion from the sea we are also aiming to provide a single, consistent and integrated approach to managing our cliffs. Producing a new Cliff Management Guide is part of this work and we invite people to come and talk to us in our forthcoming face to face events.”
Elaine Snow, Project Officer for the Dorset Coast Forum, said:
“We want to connect with people across BCP who live on or near the cliffs to understand their awareness of the environment around them. For example, do they know who to contact when they spot cliff erosion? By taking part in this engagement, residents will help us gain valuable insights into community knowledge, allowing us to shape this guide to better serve those living near the cliffs.”
Engagement activities will take place throughout June, including, drop-in events on:
- 11th June – Cliffhanger Car Park, Highcliffe from 11.00am to 3.00pm. (Please note in the event of wet weather, this will instead run on Wednesday 18 June)
- 24th June – Pier View Room, Boscombe from 2.30 to 6.30pm
- 25th June – Branksome Dene Room, Branksome from 12.30 to 4.30pm
There will also be an online event on Monday 30th June 6.00 to 7.00pm. Information on how to register at Engagement Events | BCP Cliff Management Householder Guide | Dorset Coast Have Your Say
Can’t attend in person? Share your thoughts via an online survey at dorsetcoasthaveyoursay.co.uk/surveys
Visit the Dorset Coast Forum project page at dorsetcoasthaveyoursay.co.uk/bcp-cliff-management-guide
The survey will close on Sunday 13th July 2025.
Notes to Editor
South West Flood & Coastal works with communities and partners to address the challenges of flooding and coastal erosion in a changing climate, while enhancing the environment. It is a shared service between Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council and East Devon District Council and is leading this work on behalf of BCP Council.
Dorset Coast Forum (DCF) is an independent coastal partnership that brings together individuals and organisations, to collectively deliver on a whole range of social, environmental, and economic opportunities that are relevant to the Dorset coast, its communities and its seas. Through working in partnership, DCF develops and shares ideas, information and expertise.
