Shoreline - Fact finders preparing case against Shoreline Management Plan
Overstrand mounts shore plan strategy
Overstrand Shoreline Management Committee has named three fact finding teams to prepare the village's case against the SMP preferred option of slow surrender of the village to the sea.
Overstrand Parish Council backed its forthright opposition to the Shoreline Management Plan by forming the action committee, tasked with reviewing the report's damaging recommendations for the villages future.
Campaigning
The campaigning committee, of four Parish Councillors and four co-opted parishioners, are working on a strategy to counter the Shoreline Management Plans submissions on village economy and environment.
Overstrand's Shoreline Committee team selections reflect individual skills, experience and interests.
Economics:
Richard Coward, accountant whose family connections with the
village go back to 1948 when his grandfather took over the riding
school.
John Laidlow, has lived in Overstrand for over 20 years.
Food scientist, mushroom farmer and property developer
Alan Wilson, chemical engineer and business economist.
Owned Norfolk property since 1967 and Overstrand links for six years.
Parish Councillor
Environment:
Joe Aylward, Parish Councillor connected with village for 30
years.
Jim Gyton, Overstrand born. Local business man with fishing
experience and life interest and knowledge of local sea and shore
conditions.
Gordon Partridge has lived in the village over 14 years.
Bsc Environmental Studies. An Environmental-Health professional.
Parish Councillor
Communications:
Simon Davies, From Sussex coast, came to Overstrand two years ago.
30 years in music industry, promoting pop groups through radio,
TV, newspapers. Chairman of Overstrand SMC.
Michael Clarke, experience of radio, newspapers, press liason,
editing, feature and sports writing. Lived in Overstrand two years.
Shoreline Editor and Parish Councillor.
Phillipines link up
The named team are the front men, but all villagers form part of the squad. Key support players, feeding information and ideas helping to develop Overtrand's protest. Committee members have been buoyed by the response of businesses and villagers to their research so far.
And by the dedication of irrigation engineer, William Bradfield, who has lived in Overstrand most of his life.
Before work took him overseas he was among the first to take an active interest in the Shoreline Management Plan.
William submitted his initial appraisal of the plan to Overtrand Parish Council before flying out to the Philippines in January.
From remote field locations William has maintained regular email contact with Overstrand's shore campaigners. They are hoping he will be back in Norfolk in time to contribute to the villages final submissions on the SMP.
Foot sloggers needed
Many willing hands will be needed in the months ahead to provide back up support to the teams.
Overstrand's Shoreline Committee would like to open a register of volunteers, ready to respond when needed.
Foot sloggers, couriers, civil and marine engineers, lawyers, administrators, fund raisers, tea ladies, in fact all willing hands would be welcomed aboard.
To volunteer contact: Simon Davies 01263578184 or Michael Clarke 01263 576671.
Shoreline
Demand for Shoreline's first edition exceeded expectations. At 1eat 620 copies were circulated. Extra copies were requested by villagers to send to their families living across the UK and as far afield as France and America.
Thank you...
The people of Overstrand have proved they care about the future of their village.
You turned out in force at three meetings in a the space of week, determined to learn about the unacceptable SMP proposals and have your say.
It started with a packed house for a Parish Council meeting, followed by a good turn out for the first meeting of the newly formed action committee.
Then 250 sat in St. Martin's church to hear Coastal Action Group's Malcolm Kerby, leaving no doubts about Overstrand's need to fight the SMP's preferred option.
Your support confirmed the Parish Council and Shoreline Action group's mandate to reject the proposals.
Your impressive support for Shoreline, letters and offers to help the campaign ahead is much appreciated.
Committee members have been well received by businesses when some times asking searching questions in order to challenge the economics of the proproposed plan.
No Quick Fix
This campaign will be no quick fix. The first target is to make representations to North Norfolk District Council. If successful the next nuts will be more difficult to crack, DEFRA and Central Government.
Overstrand Shoreline Committee and Parish Council thank you for a fantastic response, dig In, we could be in the trenches a long time!
Overstrand a carbunkle
Malcolm Kerby, co-ordinator of Happisburgb based Coastal Concerns Action Group, told Overstrand residents attending a meeting at St. Martin's parish church, "Your village has become a "carbuncle."
He said, "Experts reckoned Overstrand's defences were stopping 20% of sediment moving along the coast, where it as was needed to bolster other beaches.
They advocate a return to natural processes," said Mr. Kerby. "That would be O.K. if they had not interfered fifty years ago. Since then people had bought properties believing defences would be maintained."
Mr Kerby also took a swipe at Offshore Dredging for Marine Aggregate.
"The plan claims it is uncertain whether or not there are links between offshore dredging and coastal erosion. Does the British Government think we are all stupid?"
Over the past 15 years 135,000,000 Tonnes have been removed from East coast off shore fields.
On the day of the Overstrand meeting a Public Notice appeared in the Eastern Daily Press for renewal of Hanson Aggregates Marine Ltd's (HAML) licence for a further 15 years dredging off Great Yarmouth from Area 401/2 of 2,000,000 Tonnes annually.
Collection
A retiring bucket collection following the meeting raised £164.18 for Coastal Community Action Group.
CCAG website www.happisburgh.org.uk
Coastal Concern Action Group's website provides a wider view of coastal management issues. Now including "Shoreline". There were 15,580 visits to the site in January with 48,000 pages viewed.
Stay calm ... write
Understandably Overstrand is still reeling at the shock content of the Shoreline Management Plan proposals.
Remember stay calm. Although the plan has posted a cloud above the village, causing anger and worry, it will not become a Policy Document unless the authors of preferred destruction get their way.
There is still much to be done before presentation of the village's objections to the plan.
You can play a part in over turning the proposals to allow our village to slowly slip over the cliffs, canvassing by writing a letter.
Shoreline understands some readers are concerned about the complexity of questions and wording on pro forma issued by Terry Oakes & Associates PO Box 186 Lowestoft NR33 OWY email smp3b@terryoakes.com
There's no need to worry, letters can be written directly to the consultants. Or may be attached to the pro forma, making sure the form is clearly marked appropriately.
Also consider sending copies to North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb, 15 Market Place North Walsham NR28 9BP
If you need further help, contact Parish Clerk, Joan Mapperley 01263 579463 who will put you in touch with a Shoreline Management Committee member.
"Why let this village go?"
THE SHORE PLAN HAS SHOCKED OVERSTRAND FISHERMAN DAVE DAVIES REPORTS MICHAEL CLARKE
Retired fisherman Dave Davies with 51 years at sea behind him cannot come to terms with the Shoreline Management Plan.
Seven generations of his family have fished off the Overstrand shore he cares about passionately.
"Why let this village go all the way back to the pub? What right has anyone to reach this conclusion?" said Dave.
"This village has been our life, I thought our heritage was here. I have grandsons, a house and my son Andy had hoped to go on fishing here for years to come."
The report has left Dave who remembers the 1953 East Coast flood wondering why the future of Overtrand now seems so blurred.
- Storms
"I cannot believe the reports intention of allowing the sea wall to collapse."
He says the sea wall was rebuilt following the 1953 storms after the sea had ripped away sections of the old wall, promenade and slope gang ways.
"At the time the curved top section of the wall was built, to hold back the sea, the old fishermen reckoned it was the best thing ever done here. And it's worked."
The other defences built in 1953 were the wire net framed gabions packed with pebbles and stacked into the foot of the the cliff above the promenade wall.
"The gabions are simple, not very pretty and were only supposed to last 20 years," said Dave. "But with the sea wall they have saved our village for 51 years.
"I can't believe they are suggesting abandoning our defences. Overstrand should be saved for future generations."
Overstrand's fishing fleet
Overstrand's traditional crab fifhing flreet operates frtom Fisherman's Green, in front of Cliff Top Cafe, just above the cliff.
The scene of crab nets stacked high, wooden Dutch barn shed, colourful boats, tractors brimming with sea rusted character and the ritual of landing the daily catch, attracts scores of tourists to Overstrand.
Six crab and lobster fisherman put to sea from Overstrand's shore under the watchful eye of Dave Davies, these days always ashore in support.
Their catch contributes to the labours of other traders including local caterers, fish monger and buyers, carriers, merchants ftom out side the village.
Overstrand crabs are delivered locally around Norfolk and distributed across the nation. There's even a daily of lobster run to Colchester.
Defences kept cruel sea at bay
Stormy weather caused havoc along the North Norfolk coast on Sunday, 13 February, 2005.
At high tide shortly after 9.30pm on a bitterly cold evening fierce, gale force, north westerly winds battered Overstrand.
Frothing 30 foot waves lashed the promenade with torrents of spray and foam spreading to pound the first level promenade access ramp 35 feet above.
the hard defence sea wall and promenade kept the raging sea at bay while villagers were secure by their fire sides.
NOT UNUSUAL
Forceful spring tides are not unusual at this time of the year when a north westerly blows. But for over a hundred years Overstrand's cliffs have been shored up by hard defences during cruel seas.
The aftermath of this latest storm proved gradual abandonment of sea wall and promenade, recomended in SMP, would not be In Overstrand's best interests.
About 75 metres of flimsy prom railings were twisted by the force of the sea, but the village's sea defences did their job.
It was a different scene along the coast at Happlsburgh and Winterton-on-Sea. Without similar wall and promenade protectlon they fared much worse, sufferring loss of land and cliff.
NORTH WALSHAM AREA PARTNERSHIP OF PARISH COUNCILS SHORELINE STRATEGY MEETING AT BACTON: OVERSTRAND PARISH COUNCILLORS AUDREY BRITTLEBANK & ERIC YICKERS REPORT
North Norfolk District Council Chief Executive Mr. Philip Burton:
Current Shoreline Management Plan is "holding the line, but no resources,
money to carry out the plan.
Proposed SMP would allow erosion of the coast line in a managed way. If the
plan is not adopted, then current hold the line will remain in place, but
the Council cannot afford to carry it out without further resources.
Officers of North Norfolk District Council, Waveney District Council and Yarmouth Borough Council are involved in talks with a view to issuing a joint statement.
Deputy leader of North Norfolk District Council Mr. Cliff Stockton :
If SMP is adopted, not only coastal towns, but also North Walsham and Stalham
could potentially be at risk.
DEFRA position is: sea defences no longer affordable. Its statutory duties do not protect human beings.
Their cost benefit analysis assesses priorities under a points system. Minimum target 22. Even Cromer scores only 19. Happisburgh 4!
If the SMP is adopted and "no active intervention" is specified no sea defence would be allowed by anyone, not even a spade in the sand!
A general discussion followed with Partnership members submitting:
- Broads would flood if sea breaks through.
- Netherlands does not allow off shore dredging, but buy our aggregate for their sea defences.
- Bacton terminal companies might build their own defences, but DEFRA would not permit Happisburgh to build defences.
Heritage gems at risk
Elegant Overstrand abounds with Impressive buildings, the legacy of days when the well heeled took a liking to the village in the late 19th century.
It is claimed for its size Overstrand has one of the larrgest concentrations of architectural gems designed by Sir Edward Lutyens.
There's Impressive, Overstrand Hall, a turn of century manor house, now Kingswood Educational Centre.
The Pleasaunce is another large country manor, now a thriving Christian holiday centre. On its boundary walls stands its chapel, originally designed by Lutyens as a gate house.
His fourth major village building is the Methodist Chapel Cliff Road. The only Non-Conformist chapel designed by the architect The three latter buildings are all at risk under SMP.
POST BOX - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Grains of truth?
Now I'm beginning to under stand the scale of the problem!
Overstrand has to be sacrificed for the sake of others. But who are the
"others" mentioned.?
We are led to believe that millions of tonnes of sand and gravel from our cliffs will be for the benefit of the beaches further down the coast. What rubbish!
Is the truth, Overstrand is to be sacrificed to provide sand to the off shore dredging companies off Great Yannouth?
They dig huge holes in the sand and we at Overstrand like others along the North Norfolk coast provide the materials to fill it up again. Sounds like a money spinner doesn't it?
Indeed it is. Profits believed to amount to £1 million pound a day for the Government alone. No wonder they are keen to grant licences.
And what's our share of the money? Nothing unless you think £47 million for coastal defences around the entire British coast line is a fair share.
I think its time to name and shame the Government for its involvement in what can only be described as an environmental catastrophe.
As one of Overstrand's most famous devotees once said "Let's fight them on the
beaches."
Paul Illif, Overstrand
Thank you
Thank you for your excellent newsletter, "Shoreline". Without it we would
not have had opportunity to comment on the proposed SMP.
Alan Eatough, Overstrand
Depressing documents
Until your news letter fuund ics way to us we were unaware of the
Plan's existence.
I read the news letter with interest and have also looked at the Plan itself.
What a depressingly clinical document it is - and the CPAG website.
Tim Sisson, Newark, Notts.
The content of published letters is the opinion of the writer alone, not necessarily Shoreline's,