1.1 Respondents Backgrounds

Figure 1.1 describes the backgrounds of the different respondents.

Other classification statistics gained from the survey are:

93% of respondents are car owners

43% of respondents are members of an Environmental organisation

1.2 Respondents Views

1.2.1 Coastal Erosion at a Slapton Sands

Nearly all respondents (99%) were found to be aware of the coastal erosion problems at Slapton Sands. The majority of respondents (75%) also believed that the A379 road was in danger of being broken beyond repair in the future, indicating that respondents take the threat of coastal erosion at Slapton Sands seriously.

1.2.2 Value of the Slapton Sands Area

Respondents were asked, "How important is: the A379 road, the beach and the Ley to you?" Each feature was rated between 1 to 5 (5 = "Very Important"). Figure 1.2 below shows that respondents placed a high value on all the three main features of the Slapton Sands area (the road, the Ley and the beach) and that all three features were of equal value to the respondent.

Written comments found the public to be in agreement about the natural beauty and unspoilt nature of the area. Written comments also found many people viewed protecting the road as protecting the natural environment. As "letting nature take its course" would mean the destruction of the freshwater Ley as it gradually became saline. Written comments also found many respondents considered the A379 road as a vital link for the community and should be protected at all costs. Indicating that all of the three main features affect people’s choice of long-term solution.

1.2.3 Road Closure

When the A379 road was closed for three months after storm damage in January 2001, 94% of respondents considered the road was closed for longer than necessary. During road closure 84% of respondents experienced inconvenience and 42% of respondents experienced financial hardship.

During road closure 66% of respondents used the back roads to reach their destinations, indicating how local people would travel if the A379 road were closed in the future.

When asked "In the future would a single-track road controlled by traffic lights be acceptable to you, for sections of the road between Torcross and Strete Gate?" 62% of respondents replied Yes.

1.2.4 Public Agencies and Public Information

When respondents were asked "How do you feel the following public bodies and organisations dealt with the breaching of the A379 road in Jan 2001?" Each organisation was rated between 1 and 5 (1="Very Badly" to 5="Very Well").

Figure 1.3 highlights that the average scores for all of the agencies are below 3, with the Parish Council rating higher than all other agencies.

Furthermore, only 29% of respondents were found to have received information about the future of the A379 road. Of the 29% who had access to information, many cited sources such as newspapers and local pubs, rather than official sources, such as the agencies involved in managing Slapton Sands. 88% respondents said they would like to receive information in the future.

1.3 Choice of Long Term Solution

The respondents’ choice of long term solution was varied and initial results found no clear long term solution emerging. Initial results found 43% of respondents favoured the seawall or sheet piling options (Figure 1.4).

The data was grouped using two different methods in order to demonstrate which type of solution people preferred.

Firstly the data was grouped into "Hold the Line" and "Not Hold the Line". These are defined as:

Hold the Line – to keep the road following its current course. I.e. Seawall, Sheet Piling, Build a Bridge, Other, Beach Replenishment

Not Hold the Line- to either abandon the road or change its course. I.e. Abandon with Financial Help or Abandon and build new road

Secondly the data was grouped into hard or soft engineering choices. These are defined as:

Hard - "Hard engineering structures aim to resist the energy of waves and tides". I.e. Seawall, Sheet Piling, Build a Bridge, Other

Soft - "Soft engineering aims to work with nature by manipulating natural systems which can adjust to the energy of the waves and tides to good effect and has the potential for achieving economics whilst minimising the environmental impact of traditional engineering structures". I.e. Beach Replenishment, Abandon with Financial Help, Abandon and build new road

Figure 1.5 shows that 81% selected a "hold the line" solution and 64% selected a hard engineering solution. Written comments from respondents found differing motivations for a "Hold the Line" choice mainly between protecting the road or protecting the Ley or both.

1.4 Social or economic factors that may have affect respondents long term choice

Many relationships were tested statistically to discover factors that may have affected a respondent’s choice. There was no relationship found between road use or global warming and the choice of long term solution. There was also no relationship between the choice of long term solution and age, sex or membership of an environmental organisation.

There was however a relationship between those who experienced financial hardship due to the temporary loss of the road and the choice of a "hold the line" solution. Similarly there was a relationship between those who experienced inconvenience and the choice of a "hold the line" solution.

This finding would indicate that the socio-economic issues of financial hardship and inconvenience resulting from the loss of the road are the two main motivating factors that need to be considered when working with the public towards a long-term solution for the Slapton Sands area.

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