Survey Feedback Results
Havant Borough Council carried out a community survey to understand how the Broadmarsh Coastal Landfill area is used in late 2025. A total of 160 people participated in the survey, and the responses are summarised below.
Broadmarsh Coastal Scheme
Broadmarsh Coastal Park sits on a historic coastal landfill site. Originally an intertidal mudflat crossed by Storehouse Lake, the area was reclaimed for landfill in the 1960s, enclosed by a chalk bund. The bund is currently protected by a sloping defence, which as now reached the end of its serviceable life.
The project has now entered the detailed design stage, led by Coastal Partners’ in-house design team. With the aim to design new cost efficient, low maintenance defence to protect the historic coastal landfill from eroding into the harbour. Once the design is complete, the team will look to secure the necessary licences and consents for construction.
Havant Borough Council would like to extend its sincere thanks to everyone who participated in the survey. The feedback received will be reviewed and used to help inform future planning and designing for the area.
1. How often do you visit Broadmarsh Coastal Park?
2. How far do you travel to get to Broadmarsh Coastal Park?
Local (less than 2 miles)
Nearby (2-5 miles)
Regional (5-15 miles)
Far away (15 miles+)
3. What is the main purpose of your visit? Select three of the following options.
Enjoying open space
Walking/Running/Cycling
Birdwatching
Dog walking
Accessing the harbour
Meeting up or socialising
Other activities in survey included:
• Cycling
• Photography
• Having lunch
• Getting seaweed • Fresh air
• Just relaxing
• Work
• Can connect with Bedhampton
• Access to Farlington Marshes
• Litter picking around Budds Farm
• On Coastguard calls
• Studying marine environment
• Getting the kids out for a walk. It would benefit from a small park for a short stop to let the kids play while on a walk. Also some seating areas to rest, relax or eat some foot on a bench.
• Views over the harbour
• Picnic
• Work occasionally require me to visit.
• Botany
4. What do you like most about this area?
The relaxed atmosphere. I can enjoy the shore without an intrusive shop, play areas or other distractions.
• Not crowded, always parking. Beside the water.
• Sea views and open space
Coastal views, bird life, vehicles are kept at a distance except at the slipway
• No traffic, open air and lots of routes to take. Considerably less routes available now due to the abject failure to protect the coastal path, or at the very least provide an alternative route around the breach.
The relaxed ambiance, I can enjoy the shoreline without any commercialization
The open air and free parking. A great place to walk the dog and sit and reflect
• The views across the harbour and the wildlife are great. Also, the wide spaces are fantastic for running the dog.
• I love watching the comings and goings at the boat ramp.
• Looking across to Portsmouth
• Looking at the birds
• The kids throwing stones in the sea,
• Getting the kids out for a walk. It would benefit from a small park for a short stop to let the kids play while on a walk. Also some seating areas to rest, relax or eat some foot on a bench.
• Good for viewing birds and coastal flowers .
• The natural beauty, it’s a peaceful oasis amongst the noisy roads & industrial estate. Locally one of the few open spaces to let your dogs run free. Great car park.
• The unique selection of plants found on the site
The mix of grassy trails and coastal paths with access to the water.
Ever changing tides and weather mean no two visits are the same
• Open visitor across the harbour.
• Cycling or walking trail alongside sea.
• It is local to where I work which means I can go with my lunch and sit and enjoy the view across the harbour.
• The area has a lovely walk too.
Just being by the sea and seeing the cows from the dairy
Always different, depending on weather and tide.
• Seeing the wildlife.
• Seeing the birds, swans, rabbits and all the wildlife. It’s nice to see the sea and get some fresh air on my dog walks. It’s such an unspoilt area
• Bird watching Spot, being by the water and very local to me.
• Easy access to Langstone Harbour - saves the trip onto Hayling Island. Close to the RSPB islands so great for birdwatching. Coastal path great for exercise - running and cycling mainly.
• Wide variety of birds especially in winter. The views across the harbour. Sea air rather than polluted air from heavy traffic.
5. What would you like to see improved about this area?
Upgraded paths and surfaces
Improved public spaces (e.g. bins, benches etc)
Improved cycle or walking routes
More trees, flowers, or greenery
More information about the area (e.g. maps)
Other (please specify):
Improved bird watching spots
Better facilities for dog walkers
Nothing - I think it’s fine as it is
Other improvements suggested by members of the Public:
• Stop the fly tipping and general antisocial behaviour than can occur there with litter etc left
• Stop the noisy jet skies that I too fast in harbour
• Ban bicycle riding on the pavement
• Replace the aging seawall to protect what’s there. Please avoid what’s happened to the other side of the river
• There is a bit that is completely unpassable now if the tide is in but still tricky if the tide is out. The field behind is now a wet land, which has change the wildlife habitat. It would be great if there was a little bridge over like on Thorney. Is would also be great if there was a sign posted circular route or accessible coastal route
• Now that Harts Farm Way has been improved, it is time that the access road and carparks here were resurfaced.
• The inland areas next to the sea edge walks need landscaping into a suitable park and habitat.
• Would be lovely to see a cafe or pub/restaurant established here. The views are fantastic and the location would bring many people in
• Better access around the boat ramp without the large dips in the floor hard to go over with pushchairs / childrens scooters. Compacted gravel path between coastal path and bike track
• Better cleaning. Less dog waste. More pleasant environment.
• Better use of available space - the land is prime real estate and should be utilised. An education centre, relocation of the fishing club closer to the slipway, and space for marine business would generate the council some funds from a currently worthless site.
• Fixing broken accesses and flood defenses
• Harts Farm Way was recently resurfaced. The Broadmarsh access road should have been resurfaced at the same time.
• Something to help with the rat infestation in the area
• Toilets and less boy racers
• Having separate cycling line would be brilliant so we don’t get in the way of walkers
• Wheelchair accessible facilities and access please
• History signs
• Some form of catering outlet so that it is somewhere to go for socialising and meeting people. Car park and safety also needs improvement I.e lighting.
• Security in the car parks, accesibility for wheeled walkers or wheelchairs that get stuck in potholes or in loose, stony gravel.
• I would like this area to remain wild with native plants that which would naturally grow here and not convert this area into a public park with formal planting etc.
