Residents urged to reject plan
(The Advertiser Online, 14 April 2005)
CONCERNED residents flocked to a meeting held last week to discuss the proposed shoreline management plan.
The public meeting was held at Ormesby Community Centre last Thursday night. It was organised to enable people to learn more about coastal erosion in the area.
The meeting was organised by the Scratby Coastal Erosion Group in conjunction with Ormesby St Margaret and Scratby Parish Council.
Malcom Kerby of the Coastline Concern Action Group, based in Happisburgh, hosted the talk and explained the proposed shoreline management plan in simple terms. Members of Norfolk County Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council and village parish councils attended meeting. Jenny Livingstone (on behalf of MP Tony Wright) and prospective parliamentary candidate Mark Fox were also present.
Mr Kerby said that residents should present a united front and reject the proposed Shoreline Management Plan in its present form. He explained that the plan was actually no plan at all because the proposal for the area was to take no active intervention.
The Shoreline Management Plan drawn up by Halcrow estimates that within 100 years up to 150 properties and link roads in Newport and Scratby could be lost. However, Mr Kerby pointed out that previous Halcrow estimates have not proved to be accurate. The erosion line estimated for Happisburgh for 2025 was reached two years ago. At Winterton erosion has been five times greater than estimated.
Mr Kerby also spoke about the effect coastal erosion could have on property values and highlighted the fact that no compensation is currently proposed in the plan for any losses.
Views and comments of the shoreline management plan should be sent to Terry Oakes Associates Ltd, PO Box 186, Lowestoft NR33 0WY.
The meeting also called for anyone who objects to the application for the renewal of an existing licence to dredge an area off Great Yarmouth for the removal of 2 million tons of sand and gravel per year for another 15 years to make their views known. Although disputed by authorities, dredging has been highlighted as a possible cause for coastal erosion. Comments should be sent to: HAML, c/o EMU Ltd, 1 Mill Court, The Saw Mills, Durkey, Southampton, Hampshire, SO3 2EL.