A scheme to protect one of north Suffolk’s busiest stretches of road from flooding is moving nearer to realisation now that a transport minister has given the project his backing.

A £1.85m project to raise the A12 Lowestoft to Ipswich road by about a metre at Blythburgh was yesterday backed by Paul Clark, under- secretary of state for transport, when he visited Lowestoft and said bids for the work were already being considered. (more…)

A year after a tidal surge breached flood defences around a north Suffolk estuary, a landowner has vowed to work with coastal campaigners to protect the land he loves.

Andrew Blois, who owns hundreds of acres of grazing, marsh and farm land in Walberswick, next to the Blyth Estuary, has been working for the last year to repair some of the flood walls which were damaged in last November’s storm surge.

“These defences were built by my family 300 years ago. I’m not going to be the Blois who gives up on them,” he said. (more…)

A bid to secure European funding to protect homes and land around a north Suffolk estuary has attracted the support of decision-makers in the flood risk zone.

East of England MEP Geoffrey van Orden has been looking into the possibility of applying for European Union money to help repair flood defences around the Blyth estuary, near Southwold, and now local councils have agreed to help him bid for the cash. (more…)

Communities were yesterday given the clearest indication yet by a government agency that they can build their own DIY sea and flood defences if no government money can be found to protect homes and land.

But the move was branded as “yet another cop out” in the management of the coast by a leading coastal campaigner.

The Environment Agency (EA) plans to stop maintaining defences around the Blyth estuary, near Southwold, over the next 20 years, which could leave thousands of acres of farmland, about 20 homes and the A12 Ipswich to Lowestoft road at increased risk of flooding. (more…)

THE senior official at the sharp end of protest over the Environment Agency’s plans to abandon some of the flood defences in Suffolk’s estuaries has moved to a new job overseeing the region’s response to the threat of inland and coastal flooding.

Dr Charles Beardall has moved from his job at Ipswich as the agency’s area manager, covering Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex, to become regional flood and coastal risk manager for the east of England, based in Peterborough.

It was also revealed yesterday that extra staff members are being drafted in to the agency’s Suffolk-based team to help deal with coastal issues, including engagement with a public which has proved hostile to plans for “managed retreat”. (more…)

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.” (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…)