Our coastline is changing, it always has and it always will. Waves, tides, wind and storms erode cliffs and beaches and move sand and sediment around the coast and in and out of estuaries, changing the way the shoreline looks, works and protects our homes and towns. Climate change and increased use of the coast for homes, recreation and industry could speed up these changes.

What is done to avoid coastal erosion?

Although erosion is largely inevitable, a majority of our coastline is protected as far as is practicable by manmade defences. These include 'hard engineering', such as sea walls and groynes and 'soft engineering', such as encouraging dunes and salt marshes.

Who's responsible for managing it?

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is responsible for setting government policy to do with flood and coastal erosion risk management in England. The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) is responsible for this in Wales. Local Authorities are responsible for planning, building and maintaining coastal protection. In England, Defra delegates its repsonsibility to the Environment Agency who decide whether or not a proposed scheme is environmentally, economically and socially sound, and whether funding is available. In Wales the Welsh Assembly Government has this role. The Environment Agency are responsible for tackling coastal flooding.

What are Coastal Erosion Risk Maps?

Working with Local Authorities, the Environment Agency are currently mapping out the likely risks to communities from coastal erosion over the next 20, 50 and 100 years. The maps for North West England and North Wales should be published on the Environment Agency website in Spring 2011. The maps will show how implementing the different suggestions in the Shoreline Management Plan 2 will affect predicted rates of erosion.

Where can I find out more?

You can find out more about coastal change on the Environment Agency's website .