New moves to hold back the sea.
By Ed Foss (Eastern Daily Press, 11 July 2009)
A new group has been formed aimed at giving a collective voice to small communities around the country facing the threat of coastal erosion and the impacts of climate change.
Fuelled by the long running coastal campaign in Norfolk, especially in Happisburgh and mainly at the hands of the Coastal Concern Action Group and North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb, the group will be called the National Voice of Coastal Communities (NVCC).
The formation of the group took place this week after a half day conference in London, hosted by CCAG and the coastal and marine all party parliamentary group, which is chaired by Mr Lamb.
The Coastal Conununities at Risk conierence featured presentations from a host of interested parties, including community representatives and the minister responsible for flood and erosion management, Huw Irranca-Davies.
It was followed by a meeting for the community groups where the reasons for forming NVCC were discussed.
CCAG co-ordinator, Malcolm Kerby explained: "A year ago it became more and more clear to me that as the shoreline management plans were being pushed around the country, many more communities were being plunged into the darkness of potentially losing homes and feeling they had nowhere to turn to.
"There was a fair amount of desperation and we realised we needed a national voice. The group will give equality of arms to those smaller communities who feel they don't have a voice, and as a group of communities it gives everyone a stronger voice to take on the leviathan machine that is the Environment Agency, Defra and the government."
Eight community groups are involved, ranging from Happisburgh to North Kent to Gwent, and more will be invited to take part. Mr Lamb said the group would "give these communities a coherent national voice".
"Given that this issue often involves geographically disparate communities around the country, it will help a lot of people. One of the clear benefits is that government willbe forced to listen."
- Log on to www.nvcc.org.uk.
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A new set of guidelines has been issued In North Norfolk to aid planning decisions in coastal areas at risk of erosion. Planning officers can use the Coastal Erosion Risk Guidance note, which explains what the risks are to people and property on a changing coastline and what can be done to reduce the risks alongside existing planning policies. Call coastal planner Rob Young on 01263 516162 or visit www.northnorfolk.org/coastal/3440.
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Draft plans have been published to manage the impact of rising sea levels on an ever-changing stretch of North Norfolk's coastline.
The shoreline management plan (SMP) for the area between Hunstanton and Kelling Hard, originally formed in 1996, is currently being reviewed by the Environment Agency (EA).
A three-month public consultation is due to begin on July 20, but a draft document has already been made available to show some of the proposed policies.
The overall aim of the plan is to gradually increase the role of natural processes while maintaining existing flood defences for all low-lying houses.
Tourism areas and wildlife reserves will also continue to be protected, but some farmland and freshwater habitats could be lost as the predicted sea level rise accelerates toward the end of the century.
EA area coastal advisor Steve Hayman said: "The main implications of climate change are in the future but we need to start planning now so we are ready for those implications when they come... We are suggesting some current hold the line policies may need to be looked at. That is part and parcel of living on a dynamic and changing coastline."
After the public consultation begins, drop-in sessions are planned at Brancaster, Wells and Blakeney in September.
- The draft plans can be viewed at www.enviromnentagency.gov.uk.