Coldingham Bay & Pease Bay Tourism Survey

Overview

The beaches at Coldingham Bay and Pease Bay are vulnerable to the impacts of coastal flooding and erosion events. These events may result in the loss of beach, including the existing sand dunes, and result in the damage/ loss of infrastructure and properties adjacent to the coast for example, beach access, the coastal footpath etc.

The long-term coastal management policy for both Coldingham Bay and Pease Bay is ‘No Active Intervention – Cease to Maintain’; this means that there will be no further interventions to the coastline (i.e. the construction of defences) nor active maintenance to any of the existing coastal structures in the future.

Further information can be found here: Berwickshire Coastal Change Adaptation Plan Consultation. 

Storm Babet, in 2023, resulted in significant damage to the beaches, dunes and accesses at Coldingham Bay and Pease Bay. As a result, and as the short-term coastal management policy is ‘No Active Intervention – Local Activity Only’, an optioneering assessment is currently being undertaken by Mott MacDonald to mitigate further erosion and coastal flooding – to enable both beaches, and adjacent infrastructure and properties, to remain an accessible and functional destinations for locals and visitors to the area. This project will also ensure the safe transition towards the long-term ‘Cease to Maintain’ policy.

Scottish Borders Council have received funding to undertake the above optioneering assessment and develop the detailed design for the preferred mitigation option. As part of this funding, it is required that the Local Authority undertake a review of any potential impacts to the economy, because of the potential loss of visitors/ tourists to the area, if the mitigation measures were not implemented.

This questionnaire has been produced to help understand the impacts (if any).
 

Why your views matter

Your answers will provide valuable information regarding the economic contribution of the beaches to the local area and how future beach users may change, as a result of the impacts from long-term coastal erosion and flooding.