Plans for the future management of the north Suffolk coast were approved by councillors last night.

Members of Waveney District Council’s cabinet met on Wednesday to formally adopt the county’s Shoreline Management Plan (SMP), which covers the stretch of coast between Lowestoft Ness and Felixstowe.

The SMP was provisionally approved by the cabinet last November and, following delays, it has since been approved by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), signed off by the Environment Agency, and adopted by Suffolk Coastal District Council last week.

As previously reported by The Journal, there is concern at Covehithe over the SMP’s recommendation that a policy of “no active intervention” is applied for the next century – effectively meaning that within 30 to 40 years the entire hamlet, including homes, an historic church and important conservation areas, will be lost.

Wrentham councillor Martin Parsons said: “Benacre is losing 17 acres of land every year and with the no active intervention policy this is in effect saying we will stop the landowner defending the coast. This is a huge ethical issue.”

Paul Patterson, Waveney’s senior coastal engineer, responded: “About 18 months ago there was a meeting requested from the Benacre Estate, but no submission of taking up this offer – so if they want to come to talk to officers we can help in this matter.”

Story by Mark Boggis in the Eastern Daily Press

Several caravans at a South Wales caravan park have been left hanging from the edge of a cliff after a large section of it broke away and crashed to the beach below.

Around 40ft of rock came away from the cliff face at the Knapp Beach end of the Porthkerry Leisure Park in the Vale of Glamorgan.

It is understood no caravans went over the edge but 13 could be seen sticking well out over the edge. At least one was occupied at the time and the woman was said to be “petrified”.

The caravan park is occupied year round.

Vale of Glamorgan council officers are on the ground assessing the situation.

Doug Davies who has lived on the leisure park for eight years with his wife, Pam, said: “I’ve never seen anything like it before. I didn’t see it happen myself but others said it sounded like fireworks going off.

“The static caravans are there at the edge of the cliff and then there is a sheer drop down to the beach of about 40ft.

“There was one woman in a caravan at the time and the rest were empty because people are leaving the site at this time of year.

“The woman was helped from her caravan by friends. She was petrified but wasn’t hurt.”

Hanna Stradling, 30, of Rhoose, is due to have her wedding reception with 200 guests at the weekend at the park’s Ocean Lounge, which looks out to sea.

She said: “I’m worried because I don’t know if the reception will be able to go ahead. They’ve told me that it will be okay but there is still some doubt.”

Miles Punter, head of visible services at the Vale council, said: Any significant rock fall or incident of coastal erosion is clearly a matter of concern and we are currently investigating this particular incident.

“I would however point out that while the council has a role in monitoring the coastline in its area, the responsibility for protecting private land and property along the coastline lies with the relevant land or property owners.

The council has adopted a Shoreline Management plan for this section of the coast which suggests that any repairs to cliffs or the introduction of any built sea defences would be inappropriate, recommending instead ‘no active intervention’.

“Our officers will however assess the current site risks from this recent occurrence and advise the landowners of any remedial works that may be necessary, including those that may be required to protect users of the beach.

Alun Cairns, the area’s MP, said he would be speaking with the landowners, the local authority and the Environment Agency to find out more about the incident and to understand what measures can be put in place to ensure that this can be avoided in the future.

Mr Cairns said: “I was shocked to hear the news about the landfall, but so pleased that no one was hurt – it must have been a really frightening experience for those staying on the caravan park.

“Porthkerry Leisure Park is a large site, and to have an instance of this coastal erosion is a concern.

“I will be contacting the land owners, the Vale of Glamorgan council and the Environment Agency to find out what remedial works may be necessary to safeguard the area for leisure park residents and for the public who access the beach.”

Story by Peter Collins on the WalesOnline website

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

A GREAT deal of work has been done to try to ensure the efficient management of the local shoreline by a number of organisations representing a whole variety of interests.

The North West England and North Wales Shoreline Management Plan 2 final report has recently been published and which covers the whole of the Sefton coastline.

Formby Parish Council took part in the public consultation phase and submitted a response to the draft recommendations.

The consultation which is focused on coastal protection and defences is primarily driven by the local authorities and the Environment Agency and draws up plans to manage the coast for the next 20 years, 20 to 50 years and 50 to 100 years.

The original recommendation for the Formby dunes was that this section of the coast was for ‘no active intervention’.

The definition of that is that no action be taken to maintain existing defences or prevent nature from taking its course where the land is not defended.

The Parish Council took the view that this was unacceptable, given the fact that Sefton Council themselves had taken measures, which we support, to stabilise the dunes, and grants had been received to plan for managing coastal change.

So we are pleased that the final plan announced has been amended to reflect more accurately the measures currently being undertaken, and which we would wish to see continued into the future.

The final recommendation is that the policy for this part of the coast be changed to ‘Managed Realignment’ and which we supported during the consultation.

This policy is for the existing defences to be moved inland in a controlled way managing the sand dunes as they naturally move inland.

Sefton Council and the National Trust in Formby both actively manage the dunes and are working to understand how the dunes adapt.

We would have preferred the full policy to use the words ‘active intervention’ but the final wording has been changed from ‘minimal intervention’ to ‘limited intervention’ by the policy team.

The full policy, which is consistent for all three time periods, reads ‘Managed Realignment will allow the dune system to evolve naturally with limited intervention to manage dunes, and manage adaptation in the erosion risk zone (such as relocating paths and car parks), subject to consents’.

The Parish Council wishes to thank the Coastal Defence Officer for Sefton Council, Graham Lymbery, for his advice and information to support our response and to the local manager of the National Trust Formby, Andrew Brockbank, for his guidance and input at the public consultations and to both parties for continuing to give a high priority to the maintenance of the dune system to continue to protect this sensitive natural environment and the inland assets of the local community.

The Parish Council considers it vital that to continue to monitor the work planned for the coastal area and the flood plain on which we live.

G GASKIN

Deputy Chair, Formby Parish Council

Letter to the Formby Times

St Lawrence councillor, Chris Bonney, last night told the Ventnor Town Council about a new Isle of Wight council consultation taking place over the next three months.

The Draft Shoreline Management Plan 2 is a strategic document setting out policies for the management of the Island’s coastline over the next 20, 50 and 100 years.

The policies also cover the council’s response to coastal flooding and erosion risks.

No active intervention from Ventnor to Totland
What was very worrying last night, was when Cllr Bonney told the meeting that according to the document, one of the suggestions was that no active intervention take place between Ventnor and Totland over the next 100 years.

We’ve yet to go through the document in detail, but you can view it yourselves by visiting the Coastal Wight Website.

Visit the roadshow
The roadshow, which visits Yarmouth, Cowes, Wootton, Ryde and Sandown, was also discussed and it was agreed by councillors that the Winter Gardens would be offered as a venue for those in the south, as the alternative offered to Cllr Bonney was to make an appointment to view the documents at the Coastal Visitor Centre.

It was felt that would not encourage people to engage in the consultation process.

Full details are available on the Coastal Wight Website.

Story in the Isle of Wight News

COASTAL defences around Millom may only be actively maintained for the next 20 years, according to a new report.

The proposals, identified in Shoreline Management Plan 2, show minimal intervention would be taken after 20 years at Millom Marshes, while coast between Haverigg and Eskmeals could see no active intervention at all.

The consultation document outlines potential policies for the future of the coastline in the North West and North Wales and identifies a handful of area in South Copeland as receiving protection.

The plan labels sections of coast with one of four categories advance the line – which would see new defences built on the seaward side of existing protection, hold the line – which would see repairs done, managed realignment – which sees minimal intervention and no active intervention – which allows the shoreline to naturally realign.

Villages such as Kirkby and Askam could be actively defended for the next 50 years, but Millom Marshes to the south of the town has been classed as ‘hold the line’ for just 20 years before being removed to “managed realignment”.

Red Hills, the town’s former industrial area would see no active intervention, though Haverigg and Hodbarrow Nature reserve would be defended. The potential threat was highlighted at the latest Millom Town Council meeting by councillor Brian Crawford. Cllr Crawford spoke of his concern regarding the proposed stance towards the issue.

He said: “I have a copy of the results of the latest consultation on shoreline management and I am very concerned. They are not going to bother with areas just past Haverigg and further on the Duddon Estuary.

“With the predicted rise in sea levels they will totally wipe out areas like the railway system between here and Askam.”

Cllr Crawford argued the study highlighted the potential importance of a tidal barrage across the Duddon Estuary.

He said: “One of the tick boxes for the Duddon barrage is if it is constructed it will provide some protection.

“This sort of thing can seriously affect the future of an area.”

The document is currently in the final draft stages and will open for consultation with councillors by late summer with a plan of being “signed off” by December this year.

Story in the North West Evening Mail

Hopton is aiming to swing a breaker’s ball through a coastal defence plan which suggests no defence.

Leaflets will be dropping on to more than 1,000 doormats urging villagers to take a stand against the Government’s Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) at a public meeting at Potters Leisure Resort on Thursday.

Its suggestion to abandon a huge stretch of the coast to the sea has caused a storm of protest. But Brian Hardisty, chairman of Hopton Coastal Action Group, says not enough people have woken up to the implications of the plan on house prices and the damage it could do to the tourist industry.

He said a flurry of information drop-in sessions, including one at Sea Palling on Tuesday and at Great Yarmouth Town Hall on Wednesday this week were too low-key and unbalanced in that there was no opportunity for debate or to hear conflicting views.

The SMP has already been rejected once by Great Yarmouth Borough Council and is currently up for review.

Mr Hardisty said: “The meeting is to discuss the SMP for Hopton which has not been changed from what it was three years ago which is no active intervention in the medium and long term. Once the SMP is accepted by the borough council it is going to be there for 100 years.

“Campaigner Malcolm Kerby told me that under no circumstances should the SMP be accepted by the borough council because there is nothing in place to stop things sliding in to the sea. Most people in the village have never heard of the SMP. Council representatives are coming to explain it to people. We have to create interest because once it’s a deal and is accepted it is a done deal.”

Bernard Harris and Tim Howard will represent the borough council at the meeting. MP Brandon Lewis will be at Westminster and is sending a representative.

The meeting is in the Zest Rooms at Potters on Thursday at 7pm.

Brian Hardisty can be contacted at brianhardisty@btinternet.com .

Story in the Lowestoft Journal

A village and more than 1,000 acres of land would be lost to the sea if plans laid out in a blueprint for tackling erosion in Suffolk are accepted.

The Environment Agency’s Shoreline Management Plan calls for the continued defence of major towns and villages from flooding and coastal erosion.

But it also says over the next 30 to 40 years the village of Covehithe will be surrendered to the sea.

Property and historic sites in Easton Bavents and Dunwich will also be lost.

The plan, which goes before Suffolk County Council’s cabinet next Tuesday, also says:

• Sea defences at Lowestoft, Southwold and Felixstowe will be maintained
• The main area of Kessingland will be protected and the A12 will be defended
• Some land and property will be lost at Pakefield
• The historic village of Covehithe, including its 15th Century church, will be lost to the sea
• About 1,000 acres (400 hectares) of land between Kessingland and Southwold will be lost.

Edward Vere Nicoll, estate manager for The Benacre Estate – which owns a large portion of land at Covehithe and the surrounding area, hit out at the plan.

He accepted the need for a “managed retreat” of the coast, but not for the wholesale “sacrifice” of large tracts of land and a village.

He said the plan ignored the willingness of landowners to pay for work to help protect the coastline.

“Local people are all pretty disgusted and seriously worried about it,” he said.

A report to the council says due to rising sea levels, erosion risk management is a priority.

It recommends the Environment Agency plan be endorsed by the council, but Guy McGregor, portfolio holder for roads, transport and planning, stressed that any final decision is still open for discussion.

“We simply have to engage with communities, which is why it is going before our cabinet committee,” he said.

“We look forward to the discussion.”

Mr McGregor said that the cost involved in protecting some parts of the coast could be huge.

No-one from the Environment Agency was available for comment.

Story on the BBC News website

A SMALL community has told of its determination to protect its homes against coastal erosion after learning it is set to be abandoned to the ravages of the North Sea.

Residents in the tiny hamlet of Covehithe, just north of Southwold, face an uncertain future if Suffolk’s Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) is given the green light.

The scheme has been drawn up to suggest how flood and erosion risk should be tackled along the coast from Lowestoft Ness to Languard Point in Felixstowe.

At Covehithe it recommends a policy of “no active intervention” for the next century – meaning that within 30 to 40 years the entire hamlet, including homes, the historic 15th century church and important conservation areas, will be lost.

But in a move that could be mirrored along the Suffolk coast the community is planning to pay for its own sea defences.

The settlement of Covehithe falls within the Benacre Estate, which has been run by the Gooch family since 1746 and is currently owned by Lady Gooch.

Last night her son-in-law, Edward Vere Nicoll, estate manager, said he had already met with representatives from Natural England to discuss the possibility of funding their own sea defences.

“We are not just going to sit here and do nothing,” he said. “The Benacre Estate loses 16 acres every year- that’s a minimum. What we would like to do is take an area and see how we get on for two or three years. We’re not going to stop the erosion but we might be able to slow it down.

“Covehithe is a beautiful village with a wonderful church and community. There are homes and there is a farm. We have to try and protect it. Otherwise it will all be lost.

“I have had some very positive discussions with Natural England and I am hoping we will be able to pay for our own defences – which would be similar in design to what has already been done at Dunwich and which has just been agreed for Thorpeness.

“It was a wish of my dear late father-in-law Sir Timothy Gooch that we try to protect it and that is what we will do.”

The SMP is due to be discussed by the Environment Agency Flood Defence Committee on Friday. Its recommendation for Covehithe reads: “The historically important village…and areas of internationally designated habitat would be lost. Despite this, it is not considered sustainable to attempt to manage the erosion.”

It suggests finding alternative sites for nature conservation and investing in further research to record valuable information before it is lost.

If approved the plan will go to the Government for an environmental assessment, before being submitted to the Environment Agency director – which should see it given full approval in the summer.

A spokesman for Suffolk Coastal District Council, which has led the SMP project, said any proposed scheme would have to be submitted to Waveney District Council. However, he added that the recommendations do not prevent local small scale schemes so long as they do not impact on coastal processes such as sediment supply, affect conservation interests or the landscape quality of the area.

A spokeswoman for Waveney District Council said it would be happy to talk with representatives from the Benacre Estate, discussions which would also involve the Environment Agency and Natural England.

“We await the adoption of the SMP and it will be challenging to tick all their [the Benacre Estate] boxes and satisfy the environmental constraints of the plan,” she said.

Story by Craig Robinson in the Ipswich Evening Star

A PLAN to stop a road collapsing into the sea is being held back by red tape, it is claimed.

The road leading to Eskmeals Gun Range, near Bootle, is seven feet away from the highest water level during a storm.

Fears are mounting that one or two extreme waves will result in the road falling into the sea.

Gun range managers QinetiQ plans to install concrete blocks on the beach to protect the road, but needs permission from “a number of parties” before the work can be carried out.

A QinetiQ spokeswoman said: “The deterioration of the road is a concern for QinetiQ, which operates the MOD Eskmeals Range, as well as for others in the community, including local authorities.

“We are more than happy to work with people to try to find a solution. However, we cannot act without the permission of the relevant authorities, such as those ultimately responsible for the road or the local environment.

“One suggested interim solution, to help reinforce the existing sea defences with surplus concrete blocks from MOD Eskmeals, would also require permission and approval from a number of parties before it can proceed.”

Bootle villagers braved the freezing weather on Thursday to meet Copeland Borough Council officials and gun range manager David Harrison in a plea to save the Eskmeals road. Villagers are now demanding that something be done.

Mr Harrison offered the use of 100 concrete blocks, known as Pendine blocks, to help with the protection.

But Mr Harrison said similar efforts in the past had been blocked, as the act would be classed as fly-tipping.

Mr Harrison said: “There is a short-term solution there, that will buy more time to deal with the road.”

Lead campaigner and Bootle parish councillor Trudy Harrison said: “The on-site beach meeting in Bootle was organised to highlight the plight of residents and local businesses. The road is but two storms away from falling into the sea. As one of only one of a few beaches in the National Park, it should be preserved and treasured. I doubt its current condition fits the criteria for a world-class tourist destination.

“However, the meeting was hopeful and positive.

“I will be pursuing a meeting with the National Park Authority, Copeland Borough Council, the Highways Agency and the Environment Agency to find a sensible, low-cost solution to this urgent problem.

“Let’s hope when free materials, machinery, labour and local need are highlighted, we can move forward with a pro-active approach.”

Bootle farmer Casson Fox said: “If you put those blocks down now, I can guarantee that road will still be there in 10 years’ time.”

The need for the road is highlighted in the Bootle Community Plan, which was launched to spearhead the village’s economic survival.

The road has been left unprotected in line with the government’s Shoreline Management Plan which has a “no action” policy on the road.

The plan outlines which shorelines around the country should be protected and which ones should not be. Bootle Parish Council will officially stand against the plan at a meeting with the borough council in Muncaster on February 11.

Robert Morris-Eyton, land agent for Stubb Place Farm, which sits yards from the threatened road, said: “The problem is there are so many agencies in involved. We need to sit everyone round a table and thrash this out. “Eskmeals employs vasts amount of people. It is an important business in the area.”

A spokesman for the county council said QinetiQ would need permission from the borough council, and not from the county council, for defences to be put on the beach. The borough council’s flood and coastal engineer David Bechelli refused to talk to the Evening Mail at the site on Thursday. Ian Curwen, press officer for the borough council, was unavailable for comment.

Story in the North West Evening Mail