What a difference a year makes.

During 1999 the Environment Agency wrote to me, and many others on Shoreham Beach, warning us that according to a survey conducted by them, my property was in danger of flooding.

Among the things I was advised to do was pack a suitcase, as flood warnings could come at the last minute.

I also attended a meeting hosted by Adur District Council at which we were informed of the fragile ecology of the beach plants and the extreme rareness of vegetated shingle.

There were even tests run to ensure residents were cleaning up after their dogs - not because it might offend visitors, but because it may enrich the soil and ruin the precious habitat.

Now, a year later, the council, on the advice of the Environment Agency, is to allow Shoreham Port Authority to remove thousands of tons of shingle from this delicate habitat even a bit of dogs' mess would ruin.

As for the flooding, I have lived here for 17 years and the port has taken shingle every year from its own land without problems other than the hassle of heavy vehicles thundering past our door, spraying excess pebbles on the road.

Why should this change now? I notice since the new stone groynes have been built, the lateral drift has slowed or even stopped and the shingle taken by the Port is not being replaced as it used to be.

Last December's storm saw the sea reach the moat of the Old Fort, the area where the Port has always taken its shingle from. After this new extraction it will be houses and a rare habitat to suffer from another storm.

-J. Bradshaw, Harbour Way, Shoreham