Broads battle - debate victory
By Ed Foss (Eastern Daily Press, 01 May 2008)
Widespread anxiety over the future of the Broads will finally be discussed on the national stage next week when the Government will be urged to come clean about its flooding plans for the Norfolk coast.
Mid Norfolk MP Keith Simpson has secured a lengthy parliamentary debate next Tuesday to discuss controversial Natural England proposals which could see parts of the Broads sacrificed to the sea.
And last night he urged other Norfolk MPs to attend in a bid to show cross party support and demonstrate a unanimous front against the possible plans.
The debate will give Norfolk's politicians their first chance to publicly grill a government minister and challenge the administration to comment on their true intentions for swathes of Norfolk at greatest risk from climate change and rising sea levels.
Since a Natural England bombshell proposal to potentially surrender six northern Broads villages and 25 square miles of land to the sea was revealed in the EDP last month, thousands of people have attended public meetings, written letters, expressed their anger and singed a parliamentary petition organised by North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb. Those speaking out against the proposal have included Britain's top soldier, Gen Sir Richard Dannatt.
Tuesday's 90 minute debate will allow the pressure on the government to be stepped up a gear.
Mr Simpson will open proceedings at Westminster Hall but is looking forward to hearing the views of other Norfolk MPs during the session, as well as being given the opportunity to "hold to account" a Defra minister.
Discussions will concentrate on the controversial Natural England proposal but will not be limited to this one aspect, with the title of the event - Flood defences in Norfolk -allowing reference to coastal and inland flooding across the county, said Mr Simpson.
"The title of the debate will give us the opportunity to cover a lot of issues both on the coast and inland.
"It will be the first opportunity to hold a minister to account on the subject of the Natural England report because there is a requirement for a Defra minster to reply.
"I am keen to see as many Norfolk MPs there as possible, whether they hold coastal constituencies or not, because this is an issue which affects the whole county, not just one slice of north east Norfolk."
It remains to be seen whether the debate will end up similar in tone to one secured three years ago by North Norfolk MP, Norman Lamb, also in Westminster Hall. That discussion was held to discuss the shoreline management plan, which at the time was creating a similar level of controversy to the current Natural England furore.
After the 2005 SMP debate, environment minister Elliot Morley had to be given a police escort after he was mobbed by protestors incensed by his comments that it was "pointless" him travelling to north Norfolk or even meeting the several dozen people who had travelled to Westminster to attend.
Mr Lamb said he would be delighted to be at Mr Simpson's debate: "I am very pleased we have got a chance for Norfolk to make its views known.
"To turn out in force across all political parties is very important; we need to show a united front."
Yarmouth MP Tony Wright said he would also make every effort to attend and participate.
"It is a chance to have a wide ranging discussion on a number of issues," said Mr Wright.
"Obviously with the Natural England projections and the surge of last November, this is a very important issue to my constituents."
Malcolm Kerby, coordinator of the Happisburgh based Coastal Concern Action Group, said it was "wonderful" to hear that Mr Simpson had secured the debate.
"It is another chance to ram home the Norfolk view," said Mr Kerby.
"Cross party support is vital, there is simply no mileage in this for party political shenanigans, either at a local level or at a national level. It is simply too important."
The debate will start at 9.30am on Tuesday and can be viewed online at www.parliamentlive.tv.