Save our coastal villages appeal

05 October 2007

COASTAL communities this week rose up against a coastal management plan which threatens to allow hundreds of homes to be swallowed by the sea.

The Shoreline Management Plan which leaves places like Scratby and Winterton unprotected with no hope of compensation came in for a beating at meetings across the borough.

At Scratby campaigners are pressing the borough council to fund £150,000 worth of studies and preliminary works - a crucial first step in the bid for a rock berm from California to Scratby.

Around 100 people turned out to the Village Centre in Ormesby St Margaret on Monday to ask that a policy of “no active intervention” be changed to one of “holding the line” and unanimously showed their opposition to the SMP in its present form with a show of hands.

Jim Bratton, secretary of the Scratby Coastal Erosion Group, said he was staggered to be told a crucial environmental study would cost more than double the £60,000 figure he was quoted - although officials say it was always a multi-phase scheme over two years and that the £60,000 sum amounted solely to this year's commitment.

Head of regeneration services Tim Howard said: “There is no allocation in this year's budget for this work or next years. So in order to start it the council is going to have to find £60,000 this year and more as the scheme progresses. This is more expensive for the council than people realise.” He said the final decision lay with members.

Around £10,000 of the total sum is earmarked for a study at Hopton.

Mr Bratton said: “It was a good meeting and well supported. I thought that it was going well until I heard about the £150,000. I think now our bid could be in jeopardy. Fortunately the parish council has agreed with us. But what I find incomprehensible is the fact that 150 homes will be affected, it would cost around £2 million for the sea defences and the homes are worth a total of £25 million. It's ludicrous when you consider what the government spends money on elsewhere. We've been campaigning for something positive be done for three years now. It is like a snakes and ladders board.”

The erosion group acknowledges the need for an SMP but calls for a more balanced approach, including

That a short or medium plan protection is provided to Scratby beach by extending the existing rock berm from California to Newport.

The designation of “no active intervention” to Scratby beach is changed to “hold the line” for a specified period and a “managed retreat” thereafter.

That a social justice clause is written into it providing compensation at full pre-blight market price to all those adversely affected by coastal erosion.

That discussions begin as soon as possible regarding specific plans for the managed retreat of the community from the present coastline.

Mr Bratton added: “We feel it is imperative that the coastal communities all work together and present a united front to defend our heritage and avoid any friction caused by misinformation and lack of communication.”

After the meeting Ormesby St Margaret with Scratby Parish Council chairman Geoff Freeman said: “If it was a case of four houses being affected then it would be worth just considering compensation, but 150 homes are at stake. What I can't comprehend is the fact that we have had consultative processes over wind turbines and other things, but where has the common sense gone to? ”

Yarmouth MP Tony Wright was also at the meeting. He said: “We can't protect the entire coastline around the country. If you do have a plan then ministers and the secretary of state will look at the options. We can't hold back the forces of nature and it is the responsibility of the local authority to come up with the plan and say what you require. There are communities that need to be protected and they should be, so there must be a plan.”

Council head of regeneration Tim Howard warned that if no shoreline plan is adopted there will be no money coming from the government.

He said: “The sooner we draw up a suitable shoreline management plan that everyone is happy with, the sooner we are likely to get the funding.”

Ormesby St Margaret with Scatby Parish Council is to debate the issue at its meeting on Monday.

Of the northern coastal villages it only remains for Caister to make a decision with its meeting scheduled for 6.45pm on Monday at the council hall in the village.

ends