CCAG Newsletter - 02 February 2003

I am most pleased to inform everyone that the village meeting which took place on Thursday 30th January 2003 was a resounding success, more than 550 people packed our church to put their points of view and questions to a team of District Council Officers and the Rt.Hon Norman Lamb MP. The turnout on the night was very impressive considering the absolutely foul weather conditions reminiscent indeed of 1953.

It is unfortunate indeed that the Secretary of State for DEFRA Margaret Beckett MP did not make the meeting and even more annoying, many believe insulting that Flooding and Coastal Defence Minister Elliot Morley MP and the DEFRA Chief Engineer Reg Purnell were only 20 miles away that day.

Our MP Norman Lamb has readily agreed to pursue our cause at Westminster and will try to arrange a meeting with the Minister.

We are achieving excellent press and media coverage at the moment all of which is putting the powers that be under more pressure. If everyone could write to the following people demanding action at Happisburgh NOW and their own MP that will turn the srcew a bit more.

Rt.Hon Margaret Beckett MP Secretary of State for Environment Nobel House 17 Smiths Square London SW1 3JR

Norman Lamb MP 15 Market Square North Walsham Norfolk NR28 9BP normanlamb@hotmail.com

Richard Howitt MEP The Labour Hall Collingwood Road Witham Essex CM8 2EE richard.howitt@geo2.poptel.org.uk

I hope everyone saw the main objector to our schemes over many years, Professor Keith Clayton on the Political Show on BBC 1 today. According to him we don't need Sea Defences - just Loft Ladders!!!!!!! This is the level of stupidity from a man who expects North Norfolk District Council to consult him before preparing a Sea Defence Strategy.