 The project has been written up by the Estuaries Officer and Suffolk County Council as a case study in inter-agency co-operation with the public.Most of Shotley Cliff and fifty acres of foreshore, including the land on which the sea defences sit, was purchased by Shotley Parish Council late in 2012, and the Council now has responsibility for ongoing maintenance and management of the area.The public footpath (The Stour and Orwell Walk) between Shotley Gate and Pin Mill is currently closed off by Suffolk County Council from about 2 km north of Shotley Gate marina (where it branches to Church End) as far as the Orwell Cottages near Colton Creek until mid August 2014 as a result of recent tidal surge which caused significant erosion.