Public perceptions and attitudes towards a forthcoming managed realignment scheme: Freiston Shore,Lincolnshire, UK

Managed realignment is viewed as a sustainable flood defence strategy by practitioners as it provides environmental and economic benefits in light of potential global climate change. However, in many cases social barriers are in existence, with public perception and attitudes towards this approach less than favourable, as there is always resistance in surrendering land to the sea. Freiston Shore managed realignment scheme is the second of three on-going studies that aim to detect the drivers surrounding public acceptance of managed realignment and confidence in the Environment Agency, the lead agency for managed realignment in the UK. This research presents the hypothesis that local residents will be more accepting of a fully established scheme (since it will have been in the public domain for longer), rather than at its inception or during its construction. Findings from the Freiston scheme showed that the majority of residents supported the managed realignment scheme at its current construction phase, although two main barriers were identified as suppressing public acceptance. These are public confidence in the Environment Agency and public understanding of coastal defence and managed realignment issues. This investigation recommends that local community engagement activities are effective means of addressing such deficiencies whilst providing the education necessary for understanding the requirements and limitations of managed realignment. However, such participation activities should be tailored for the needs of individual target audiences.