A public consultation on a key part of the shoreline management plan (SMP) for the section of coast from Kelling to Lowestoft Ness will begin on Monday.

There will be four public drop-in events along the coast when people will be able to see all the SMP documents and supporting studies, as well as taking a direct consultative part in a part of the project called a strategic environmental assessment.

Staff from the various organisations involved will be on hand to answer questions and explain how the community’s comments have helped to shape the final draft plan, which dates back to 2004 and caused great controversy when the first draft was published. (more…)

EMERGENCY work has started in a bid to protect a vulnerable cliff face that has fallen victim to the ravages of coastal erosion.

The EADT reported last week how homeowners living in North End Avenue, Thorpeness, near Aldeburgh, were becoming increasingly concerned.The heavy storms at the beginning of the month gave the beach such a pounding that tonnes of material was swept out to sea.

In just a fortnight, gently-sloping shingle has been replaced by a sheer drop of between 18 and 20ft, while the gabions – wire nets filled with rocks secured to the cliff face to help reduce the impact of coastal erosion – have also been exposed. (more…)

Public spending cuts are on the way as the new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government looks to balance the country’s books. Chancellor George Osborne is due to announce the first £6bn of cuts next week, but exactly where the axe will fall is still not known. EDP REPORTERS look at the pain that is in the pipeline locally.

Coastal defences

“How can you cut a budget which is tiny and disastrously inadequate already?”

That was the reaction of leading coastal campaigner Malcolm Kerby to the possibility of the coastal defence budget being reduced. (more…)

The waves have washed away the shingle which covered the gabions

Homeowners living on the cliff top at Thorpeness are questioning whether dredging is to blame.

Shingle has been washed away at North End Avenue exposing the gabions (wire baskets filled with rocks) which protect the sandy cliff.

“It’s very, very frightening,” said Sheila Green, who lives there.

The British Marine Aggregate Producers Association said there’s no connection between dredging at sea and the erosion on the beach. (more…)

THE full cost of preventing the destruction of Scarborough’s sea defences has soared to £221 million.

The height of many of the old sea walls is insufficient to prevent severe wave overtopping which causes damage to the promenades and adjacent area, presenting a serious risk to public safety.

The figure, for the Scarborough Holbeck to Scalby Mills Coastal Defence Strategy, was put forward in an annual report to Scarborough Council by Cllr Andrew Backhouse, its portfolio holder for coastal defences. (more…)

CONCERNED residents have urged coastal bosses to step in and save their homes from the ravages of the North Sea.

In the last two weeks large sections of the cliff behind properties in North End Avenue, Thorpeness, near Aldeburgh, have been washed away.

What was once a gentle shingle slope leading down to the beach has been replaced by a sheer drop of between 18 and 20ft. (more…)

Coastal protection in the region may fall victim to deep public spending cuts, leaving people to repair their own defences, a former MP has warned.

John Gummer said that people with land and homes by the sea may need to “make do and mend” because multi-million-pound “Rolls Royce answers” would be put on the back-burner.

Mr Gummer, former MP for Suffolk Coastal and president of Suffolk Coast Against Retreat (Scar), said new local initiatives and alternative strategies such as tyre walls and using willow may have to be considered. (more…)