A HAILSHAM county councillor has been rubbing shoulders with top policy-makers on coastal erosion and flood risk.

Cllr Roger Thomas, pictured, met government minister Huw Irranca-Davies, Environment Agency chairman Dr Paul Leinster and Sir Michael Pitt, author of the influential Pitt Report on flood risk, to discuss the future direction of the government’s policies in their specialist areas.

He was also a guest speaker at the Environment Agency’s Flood and Coastal Risk Management Conference held in Birmingham and the Local Government Association’s conference, ‘The future risk of flooding’.

Cllr Thomas takes a keen interest in these issues, and sits on both the southern regional flood defence committee and the Sussex sea fisheries district committee as well as chairing the Local Government Association’s coastal issues special interest group.

He said East Sussex had a ‘volatile coastline’ that needed constant vigilance against erosion, flooding and rising sea levels. He added he was also keenly aware of the difficulties faced by the ‘ever-dwindling fishing industry’.
Cllr Thomas said, “It is imperative the Environment Agency and DEFRA listens to the views of the coastal authorities.

“I am lucky to have 77 coastal local authorities backing me. As a result, we have been recognised as the premier lobbying group in England.

“However it is difficult to obtain extra funding from the Treasury and monies already promised have been considerably devalued.”

In the past, Cllr Thomas has spearheaded campaigns to ensure suitable schemes were in place to safeguard such coastal areas as Pevensey Bay and Sovereign Harbour.

Story in the Eastbourne Herald