A SENIOR Government minister has admitted plans to abandon sea and river defences along parts of the Suffolk coast might not go ahead unless the policy has the full support of people whose homes and businesses would be affected.

East of England minister Barbara Follett promised to take back to Whitehall the message that allowing the sea to flood hundreds of acres of the county, including the Blyth Estuary, would have a major impact on the character of the area of outstanding natural beauty, its wildlife habitats and the public’s access to them.

Mrs Follett joined leaders of Suffolk’s coastal local authorities and MP John Gummer to look at the £10million flood defence work being carried out at south Felixstowe and to hear concerns about the Environment Agency’s plans for the rest of the coastline.

This includes the policy of managed retreat along the Blyth Estuary, which could sever the A12 at Blythburgh, a road crucial to the future regeneration and prosperity of Lowestoft.

The Environment Agency says it can afford to maintain flood defences along the Blyth Estuary for only the next five years, while defences at Southwold Harbour will be maintained for only the next 20 years.

The plans could put up to 40 homes and thousands of acres of land at risk from flooding, campaigners have warned.

Mrs Follett was told by Suffolk’s Cabinet member for the environment, Guy McGregor, the so-called benefit of managed retreat on the Blyth Estuary had “not been properly considered”.

She said afterwards: “The Government, its agencies and local councils must work together for an integrated solution to the dangers of flooding.

“You can’t do something if locals disagree, especially in the context of a shoreline management plan. We have to listen to local people and work with them to decide the best way forward.

“I’ve come to see for myself the strategy in Felixstowe – it is very important for the town’s tourism that we have taken action to protect its beaches. I am happy with the work that has been done so far and I shall be taking back to colleagues in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs the message that much more will have to be done to protect this precious coastline.”

Revealing that the Defra minister of state, Phil Woolas, would visit the area next month, Mrs Follett said: “I see myself as an electric cattle prod – ensuring that everyone works together to ensure joined-up thinking.”

Mr Gummer said the minister had listened carefully to concerns at the meeting and hoped the outcome would be that the Government would look into the concerns and needs of local people.

Suffolk Coastal district’s deputy leader, Andy Smith, said: “Our attention is now firmly on the apparently uncertain future of much of the East Suffolk coastline and particularly its estuaries, put firmly in the spotlight by the Environment Agency’s proposals for the Blyth.”

Describing the agency’s plans for the Blyth estuary as “detrimental”, Waveney’s portfolio holder for customer access, Simon Tobin, said: “We cannot accept the current proposals. We hope we have persuaded the minister to get the Government’s backing for a revised national approach to estuary strategies.”

Story in the East Anglian Daily Times