Storm Babet caused five years' worth of erosion along Musselburgh coastline, report reveals

Storm Babet ravaged parts of the country last October, with the Musselburgh coastline suffering a major hit with around 4,000 cubic metres of sediment removed from its beaches.

Jenness Mitchell

Scotland reporter @Jenster13

Wednesday 10 April 2024 13:46, UK

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A storm that wreaked havoc across the UK caused five years' worth of erosion damage within a matter of days along a Scottish coastline, a new report has revealed.

Storm Babet ravaged parts of the country last October, with tens of thousands of homes losing power and properties flooded as the extreme rainfall swept in.

Scotland's northeast was one of the worst affected regions, with parts of Brechin evacuated after the River South Esk burst its banks.

A number of people also died in the storm.

In East Lothian, the Musselburgh coastline suffered a major hit with around 4,000 cubic metres of sediment removed from its beaches.

In a report to the local authority, the Dynamic Coast project stated: "Storm Babet caused beach sediment loss and erosion of the vegetation edge at the upper beach, with longshore redistribution of beach sediment to the west.

"In places, this storm caused the equivalent of five years' worth of erosion over a couple of days and removed around 4,000 m3 of sediment from the Musselburgh beaches."

The report added it was fortunate Storm Babet struck during a neap tide and not spring tides as the impact would have been "far more severe".

However, it warned: "Whilst Storm Babet has not significantly compromised the existing flood management structures or natural defences (dunes etc), the natural resilience of the beach has been reduced, particularly adjacent to the existing defences in the west, and adjacent to the proposed hybrid defence in the east near Mountjoy Terrace.

"For this reason, the evidence suggests that council officers have little time to waste in planning short-term coastal resilience measures, including nature-based enhancements."

The Musselburgh Coastal Change Assessment - undertaken by Dynamic Coast and the University of Glasgow - has been published on East Lothian Council's members' library service.

The report aims to inform the local authority's work as part of its Musselburgh flood protection scheme, as well as the council's wider planning and climate change duties.

It has warned that future modelling of the coast suggests a "wider and currently unaddressed future erosion risk remains" and the council is "justified" in having it on its risk register.

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The report recommended the council establish a beach monitoring programme and undertake a coastal change adaptation plan (CCAP) for its entire shore frontage.

It has also recommended local beach feeding at its most vulnerable areas to help with the "swift redistribution of sediments".

Norman Hampshire, East Lothian Council leader, said the outline design of a scheme to protect Musselburgh from major flood risk has moved to the formal, statutory approval process.

Councillor Hampshire said this will give the community an opportunity to "view and comment upon the proposals".

The local authority has also confirmed it will update its shoreline management plan with a CCAP in line with current Scottish government guidance.

Storm Babet caused five years' worth of erosion along Musselburgh coastline, report reveals

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