Funds bid on way
By Alan Thompson (Great Yarmouth Mercury, 23 August 2007)
VITAL government funding should be on its way to help prevent the erosion of the east Norfolk coast after Great Yarmouth Borough Council agreed a new Shoreline Management Plan (SMP2).
The SMP2 still needs to be adopted for recommendation by next Friday, but an application for DEFRA funding will be sent off next week.
An original SMP was drawn up in the 1990s which only looked at the Great Yarmouth area in isolation to the rest of the East Anglian coastline, but the latest plans take into account other towns and villages in the region, including Scratby and Winterton.
The SMP2 has been compiled under the revised guidance notes from DEFRA, and sets out the risks to people and the natural and historic environment within the region over the next century, as well as identifying sustainable polices in the future for managing and lessening those risks.
Jim Shrimplin, the council's cabinet member for the environment, was at a cabinet meeting to discuss the plans on Wednesday.
He said: "Sometimes I feel we are between DEFRA and the deep blue sea.
"In the 1990s, the initial plans looked at the Yarmouth area in isolation. But now the new plan looks at other towns and villages.
"We have made predictions for 2025 and to 2055 but the fact we have made predications for worst case scenario means that we are aware, and a future authority would be aware, of what would have to deal with."
Tim Howard, the council's head of regeneration and environment, said: "Cabinet has got the ball rolling as the plan must be in place to secure funding from the government. But the recommendation for sea defences will have to go before full council in the autumn.
"North Norfolk has yet to make its recommendations but we have to be in harmony to the needs of councils both north and south of the borough."
The previous SMP was the first to be produced in England and was commissioned by the borough council, but at the time only covered the coastline of the borough.
A later study was commissioned jointly by North Norfolk District Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Waveney District Council and the National Rivers Authority.
On this occasion, the study identified certain cells, or areas, within the region, that were at risk and it was found that these areas were not restricted to council boundary areas but more to coastal erosions in more than one area.
A full public consultation will be carried out.