The growing threat to Lowestoft’s coastal defences was laid bare last night after it emerged £2m must be found to carry out vital repairs along the main beach, while a nearby sea wall is in danger of collapse within weeks.

Sea defence managers are set to apply to the Environment Agency for the funding to carry out work on the town’s showpiece south beach, but have admitted defences at nearby Corton are falling apart and will have to be abandoned.

Meanwhile, a stretch of beach at North Denes has been closed where erosion has exposed the remnants of previous defences, which now pose a major danger to beach users.

With an annual sea defence budget of just £350,000, Waveney District Council is having to battle for national funding with coastal communities across the country. (more…)

ONE of Suffolk’s most vulnerable coastal communities should be safe from flooding for the next century following the completion of a £12 million sea defence project.

Residents of Felixstowe’s low-lying south area have lived with the worry of the waves for several years, the spectre of the tragic 1953 floods never far from mind.

Climate change raising sea levels and predictions of increasing numbers of storms and sea surges have added to the fears.

But now 70,000 tonnes of rock and 500,000 tonnes of sand and shingle should keep the area safe, as well as providing a new sandy shore to entice more visitors. (more…)

Plans to extend dredging off the East Anglian coast could accelerate coastal erosion and even endanger banks protecting Sizewell nuclear power station, it was claimed yesterday.

Concerned residents and coastal campaigners who attended a public meeting about the latest dredging proposals also voiced fears that gravel extraction was already decimating fishing stocks by destroying spawning grounds.

The newly-formed Anglian Offshore Dredging Association of dredging companies held a series of presentations at Yarmouth racecourse to outline its plans. (more…)

Villagers fighting to protect their land and homes from being lost to the sea were offered a glimmer of hope yesterday.

The Environment Agency’s Eastern Regional Flood Defence Committee (RFDC) met to discuss plans to abandon flood defences around the Blyth estuary in north Suffolk.

The Environment Agency (EA) wants to stop repairing the flood walls, which protect land and property around Blythburgh, Southwold, Reydon and Walberswick, because it says it cannot afford the £35m needed to maintain them.

The RFDC yesterday looked at submissions which have been received during the year-long consultation process and asked the EA to reconsider its strategy for the estuary. (more…)

From the Holy Trinity Church looming over the marshes at Blythburgh to a safe haven for rare birds, the banks of the Blyth estuary offer some of north Suffolk’s most peaceful countryside.

But the village landmarks, animals and farmland could soon be lost to the sea if campaigners are defeated and the Environment Agency’s (EA) proposals to stop maintaining the area’s flood defences are given the go-ahead. (more…)

Demands for investment in flood defences across Waveney have been made following the release of a report into the threats posed to businesses and the economy.

Waveney District Council’s new regeneration strategy report claims major infrastructure work is needed in the next decade to stop the area’s economy suffering from the effects of flooding. (more…)

VILLAGERS battling to protect their land and homes from flooding have vowed to carry on fighting plans to abandon defences around a north Suffolk estuary.

The Environment Agency (EA) has confirmed that it intends to press ahead with its policy of “managed retreat” around the Blyth Estuary, despite months of public protest against the proposals.

Thousands of acres of farmland and about 20 homes could be lost to the sea if campaigners do not manage to persuade the EA to protect flood walls which protect land around Blythburgh, Walberswick, Southwold and Reydon. (more…)

THE Environment Agency has been met with strong opposition from residents over its plans to push ahead with a policy of “managed retreat” on the Blyth Estuary.

The Environment Agency has confirmed its plans to abandon huge swathes of the Suffolk coast to the sea - despite massive criticism of the plans.

Suffolk County Council has responded by launching a £1.6m bid to heighten a stretch of the A12 at Blythburgh to stop the key link road between Ipswich and Lowestoft flooding.

John Gummer, Suffolk Coastal MP and a former Secretary of State for the Environment, said the EA’s decision is a disgrace. (more…)

The battle to protect large sections of the north Suffolk coastline from flooding was dealt a huge blow last night after it emerged environment chiefs were set to continue with plans to abandon defences.

Protesters have fought a high- profile campaign against the Environment Agency’s proposals to stop maintaining flood defences along the Blyth estuary, but appear to be facing a bitter defeat. (more…)

The unique partnership that came together to provide much-needed coastal defence works around East Lane, Bawdsey is celebrating the news that work should get underway this month.

Because the defence works were low on the list of priorities for national funding, an innovative community partnership was created which has helped raise the money by building homes on three nearby sites. (more…)