A coastal defence scheme which could see the shape of Suffolk’s shoreline altered dramatically over the next century is set to be adopted by district leaders.

Plans to manage the 45 mile stretch between Lowestoft Ness and Languard Point in Felixstowe had been subject to opposition from inhabitants of communities denied investment for long-term defence against erosion.

Though flood risk would continue to be managed in all of the county’s main coastal towns and principal villages, areas with no proposed measures in place to slow erosion could be lost to the North Sea by as early as 2055.

Suffolk Coastal’s cabinet will be asked to formally adopt the Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) next Tuesday and implement a policy of “no active intervention” in smaller communities including Covehithe, a tiny hamlet just north of Southwold, where residents face the inevitable loss of homes, a 15th century church and conservation areas within the next 40 years unless sea defences can be funded independently.

The plan, prepared in association with Natural England by Suffolk Coastal, Waveney, British Energy and the Environment Agency, aims to reduce environmental risks to people and developed, historic and natural environments, but does not protect areas lacking significant conservation or landscape quality interest.

A blueprint was provisionally approved for adoption by Suffolk Coastal District Council (SCDC) in February 2010, and more recently by Waveney in November 2010, but needed to be proved environmentally sound to Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), which required evidence that no feasible alternative existed and that compensatory measures were secured.

Residents of Covehithe joined members of the Alde and Ore Association and SCAR (Suffolk Coast Against Retreat) in speaking out against the adoption and called for an alternative approach to defending Suffolk’s coast and tidal rivers.

Richard Steward, of the Blyth Estuary Group, meanwhile argued that any inland relocation would prove more costly to the Environment Agency’s coastal defence budget than preventatively protecting the whole of the coast from Southwold to Kessingland. He added that EU guidance declares abandonment and relocation “unlawful” unless for the overriding benefit of the public.

But Deputy Leader of Suffolk Coastal, Andy Smith said that, in the case of Covehithe, there was no viability for building expensive sea defences for such a small number of houses. However, he added that Waveney District Council was already looking into preferential planning solutions for residents. He added: “Defra and Natural England found no impediment and are content for us to adopt the plan.

“We will monitor and review the plan if circumstances make it necessary to do so.”

How Suffolk’s shores will be managed under the Shoreline Management Plan in the short (up to 2025), medium (2026-2055) and long (up to 2105) term:

Coastline defence protection will be maintained or upgraded throughout the next 100 years in Lowestoft. Pakefield will also be maintained or upgraded until 2105, when its coastline is set to be realigned. Kessingland village will also be maintained and upgraded Pakefield Cliffs will be abandoned, as will nearby Benacre Ness and Kessingland cliff.

The area between Benacre Broad and Easton Broad, in which lies Covehithe village, is not considered sustainable to attempt erosion management and will therefore be lost unless independently funded.

Southwold, and the area north of the town, will be subject to maintenance, upgrades and realignment, as will a stretch of the Blyth estuary between The Denes and Walberswick, excluding the upper estuary. Walberswick and Dunwich will also be protected or realigned.

Cliffs south of Dunwich, including Minsmere and Sizewell may be lost without long-term defence, but surrounding villages will continue to be protected.

It is hoped some properties between Thorpeness Haven and Aldeburgh will continue to be defended by the naturally-functioning shingle bank rather than man-made works which will be maintained or upgraded where required.

Since last February, more urgent works have been required in Thorpeness where a partnership between SCDC, local residents and the Environment Agency (EA) has enabled the repair and strengthening of damaged defences, reducing the immediate threat to homes from coastal erosion.

The emergency repairs began in October with 1,450 large geo-textile bags filled with sand and shingle being placed in front of the eroded cliff.

Sudbourne beach and Orford Ness will both be left to erode naturally, as will Orford beach, with realignment, maintenance and upgrades made going south as far as Bawdsey hill and cliffs which will be left. The coastline between Bawdsey Manor and Languard Point will continue to be managed and realigned where appropriate to maintain important flood defences.

Story by Tom Potter in the East Anglain Daily Times

LARGE numbers of homes and businesses on the Suffolk coast around Aldeburgh and Orford could be lost if the Environment Agency decides to abandon sea and river defences, campaigners have warned.

The Alde and Ore Association has issued a rallying cry to residents, businesses and tourists in the Aldeburgh and Orford area, warning the future of the land is under threat.

The Environment Agency is set to reveal its strategy for the area within the next six months – but the association fears it may follow the highly controversial proposals for the Blyth estuary.

There, the agency wants to stop repairing the flood walls which protect land and property around Blythburgh, Southwold, Reydon and Walberswick, because national funding is not available.

David Andren, Alde and Ore Association chairman, said: “Unless our coastal and river defences are maintained, hundreds of businesses in towns surrounding the Alde and Ore estuary will be put at risk.

“If there is a breach in the sea defences south of Slaughden this will almost certainly lead to breaches in our river defences, notably the walls protecting the Aldeburgh marshes.”

There is concern that in the future, the sea and river walls in the Aldeburgh area could be left to deteriorate and ultimately be breached.

Under threat could be the High Street, home to shops, houses, flats, hotels, the Moot Hall, and bed and breakfast houses.

Jimmy Robinson, mayor of Aldeburgh, warned: ”It is a devastating thought that nothing might be done and we do not want Aldeburgh or any part of it to be taken over by the sea or the river.

”We would like to have the sea and river walls maintained to the same standard or better than they are at the moment.”

Rosie Clarke, county councillor for Orford, said: ”There is concern that the low lying land around here will go if there is managed retreat – we have got to fight for what we have already got.”

The Environment Agency said it hoped to announce a preferred option within six months.

A spokesman said: ”It is only natural that people will be concerned about the outcome, but we are investigating how to manage this estuary and piece of coastline to take account of sea level rises.”

The Alde and Ore Association says if defences are abandoned there could be a breach between the sea and river at Slaughden, leading to an increase in volume and speed of tidal flows in rivers.

Most properties below five metres would be vulnerable to tidal surges, there could be extensive flooding of most marshlands and the loss of many saltings and habitats.

Government policy, says the association, is based on current estimates that in 100 years sea levels will have risen so much that it would be uneconomic to defend large areas of the Suffolk coast.

”The real threat to the coastal lands for the immediate future is not a change in sea level but tidal surges breaching current and inadequately maintained defences.

”We believe the appropriate policy would therefore be to ensure that the current sea and river defences are properly maintained, at least for the medium term (20-30 years) to the standard laid down following the 1953 floors,” says the association.

River walls withstood the surge in November 2007 and the association says the walls are of sound construction and regular maintenance would ensure the area remained safe.

It estimates the economic value of the Alde and Ore estuary is at least £25million annually. This excludes the value of crops and the gross output of £7m of 10 key employers.

”At peak times the Lower Alde area can account for up to 50% of the nation’s potato production. The loss of jobs in the agricultural industry if farmland surrounding the Alde and Ore were lost and salinated would have a major effect on local employment,” adds the Association.

At a recent meeting of the Eastern Area Regional Flood Defence Committee, the Environment Agency was asked to reconsider its Blyth estuary strategy.

It also said it would continue to work closely with local groups and authorities to use local funding to repair and maintain the flood defences.

Story by Richard Smith in the East Anglian Daily Times