Could it be salvation for Norfolk – or is it cloud cuckoo land?

A massive wall built out at sea and linking Great Yarmouth to Happisburgh, enclosing dozens of square miles of water and turning it into a freshwater haven for wildlife and tourism, could be the answer to some of the climate change challenges facing Norfolk and the northern Broads.

The idea has been put forward by Mike Evans, who has held a series of high-profile posts in the boating world, such as chairman of the Royal Yachting Association, and is the current president of the Norfolk and Suffolk Boating Association and a representative of private boat owners at the Broads Authority.

The wall would act as a 17-mile long breakwater, locking the sea out of both its own area and the delicate habitats of the Broads behind it.

Mr Evans conceded the “dramatic” concept might sound “outlandish and crazy”.

But he said that as well as being a serious consideration, it could also have the added benefit of encouraging people to think about the future of the county and the Broads network in a more radical way as the spectre of climate change and rising sea levels continues to hang over the future of the iconic and internationally important low-lying wetlands.

“We need to think radically and we need to think big,” said Mr Evans, who lives in Wroxham.

“Some may think initially it is a crazy idea, but the more they think about it, the more I hope they will collect all the problems we face together and realise that perhaps there is indeed something in it.

“I have run the idea past a fair few people already and many of them have come to exactly that conclusion.”

The wall, which has been given a theoretical cost of £1bn, would give a string of benefits, said Mr Evans, including:

• Protecting the Broads.
• Potentially increasing the land area rather than reducing it.
• Creating a scheme with the same level of environmental profile as the Eden project in Cornwall.
• Creating jobs and recreational tourism.
• Helping to hit house-building targets.
• Providing acceptable places to build windfarms.
• Storing surplus winter run off water, able to recharge the Broads when summer levels are low.

The idea had precedent, said Mr Evans, with examples such as the freshwater Islemeer, a 400-plus square mile shallow lake in the central Netherlands reclaimed from an inland sea in the 1930s.

“That’s not the only example, but it is a very good comparison.

“We have to look at what is possible because I don’t think the concept of managed retreat, which has been discussed so much in recent years, has any merit at all.

“It’s just some idea thought up by someone in central government, who has no idea of what really goes on in the world.

“I’m not suggesting this is an answer to everything, but what we need is a much more radical approach to the subject of what is going to happen to Norfolk and the Broads.

“It is early stages and debate is important, but the principle is definitely serious.”

Paul Thomas, of the EDP’s sister publication Anglia Afloat, where Mr Evans’ idea has been revealed and discussed in the current January and February edition, said funding would clearly be a difficult hurdle.

But he added: “If the government can throw billions at the banks, the price of this project which could save such a valuable piece of landscape is put in context.

“And bear in mind it could claw back much of its value in money saved on other defence projects which would no longer be necessary, as well as creating new economic opportunities.

“If this can work for the Dutch, it can work for us.”

Malcolm Kerby, coordinator of the Happisburgh based Coastal Concern Action Group, said he had heard of similar schemes down the years, including a much larger idea where a wall from Great Yarmouth to Newcastle had been touted.

“I certainly wouldn’t kick it into touch on technical grounds, but the first really big question is ‘how would it be funded?’

“It raises many more question than that of course, not least the environmental implications.

“It needs a great deal of thought and one of the real benefits of the idea is that it encourages people to think outside of the box, which is so important in the circumstances of climate change in which we find ourselves.”

Story by Ed Foss in the Eastern Daily Press

A villager has been honoured for her role in a David and Goliath style battle against the might of a government quango.

Fifty nine year old Susan Lowes is standing tall after she played a pivotal part in bringing down a controversial policy to surrender her home and 25sq miles of the Norfolk Broads to the sea.

The former bank worker was at the forefront of a grassroots uprising against now ditched plans by Natural England to allow her village of Potter Heigham and five others to be submerged by the North Sea.

And in recognition of Mrs Lowes’ involvement in setting up the Save our Broads petition, which collected several thousands of names, she is to be officially thanked by her fellow villagers.

On Wednesday night, Potter Heigham Parish Council was due to present her with the annual Peter Sandell good neighbour award.

Mrs Lowes said: “The thought of them flooding this area was just a nightmare; it made me livid. I decided that instead of just sitting here and moaning about it something had to be done.”

The Natural England proposals to flood the Broads and the other villages of Eccles, Sea Palling, Waxham, Hickling and Horsey, were revealed last year, but were scrapped in March following public and political outcry.

Natural England now supports a policy of holding the current line of sea defences from Eccles to Winterton for 50 years.

Mrs Lowes’ role in helping to force Natural England to change its plans was praised by North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb who orchestrated a high-profile anti-flooding campaign.

He said: “She has been a star in this sort of grassroots uprising and pulled out all the stops in the most exemplary fashion. She absolutely deserves this recognition.”

Mrs Lowes was put forward for the good neighbour award by parish councillor Jacqui Mayle.

She said: “Susan is a resident who decided not to sit back and let things happen without putting up a fight.”

As a thank-you to members of the Save our Broads campaign, Mrs Lowes will be baking cakes for them when she celebrates her 60th birthday next month.

Story in the Great Yarmouth Mercury

The Norfolk Broads face severe damage from climate change unless more is done to help habitats recover, a report by Natural England said.

The study into the future of the Broads recommends new wetlands are created and species given more support before sea levels rise further.

The report authors found climate change will lead to the Broads becoming salty.

They said coastal defences will come under more pressure, while wetlands face harm from floods and drought.

‘New policies needed’

Natural England said changing conditions would also lead to the loss of some plants and animals.

They risk being replaced by non-native and “invasive” species, it said.

Shaun Thomas, Natural England’s East of England director, said: “There is a clear need for Natural England to continue its work with government, organisations with a stake in the Broads and local communities to develop integrated responses to climate change in this, the UK’s premier wetland.”

Mr Thomas said new policies were needed to determine how the Broads could adapt to climate change.

Stephen Johnson, chairman of the Broads Authority, said the research emphasised the “need to get our habitats robust and resilient”.

Natural England also confirmed its support for the current policy to maintain the line of defence on the stretch of coast between Eccles and Winterton for at least 50 years.

The Environment Agency said it would study Natural England’s report and give “careful consideration” to what action it takes.

Story on the BBC News website – watch the Video clip

In the Norfolk Broads report, Natural England confirms its support for the current policy to maintain the current line of defence on the Eccles-Winterton stretch of coast, for at least 50 years, re-iterating that it is an adviser on flood risk policy and not the final decision-maker.

Summary report: Responding to the impacts of climate change on the natural environment: The Broads – a summary

A year ago the EDP revealed conservation bosses were considering a radical plan to surrender a large area of the Broads to the sea, prompting a public outcry and a vociferous campaign. Now Natural England has dropped the controversial proposals from its final report. JON WELCH examines the issues.

At least six villages wiped off the map, hundreds of people turned out of their homes, and thousands of acres of farmland and some of Norfolk’s top wildlife sites lost to the sea.

This devastating scenario came not from the pages of a lurid novel, but a report by the government’s own conservation advisers, Natural England.

A year ago, almost to the day, the EDP revealed that conservation bosses were considering these radical proposals as part of a their plans for dealing with the effects of climate change in the Broads.

A draft report obtained by this newspaper listed four possible courses of action in the Upper Thurne basin, including allowing the sea to breach defences between Horsey and Winterton, flooding 25sq miles (6,500 hectares) of the Broads as far inland as Stalham and Potter Heigham.

Not surprisingly, the news sparked fear, alarm, disbelief and anger in coastal communities, and although Natural England attempted to explain it as simply one of a number of scenarios in a draft report never intended for public consumption, subsequent official announcements only reinforced the impression that it was being given serious consideration.

The Environment Agency reaffirmed its commitment to “hold the line” of sea defences for the next 50 years, but its then chief executive Lady Young warned there would be “difficult decisions to make” after this.

Environment secretary Hilary Benn said it could prove uneconomical to protect some places from rising sea levels, warning: “Nature is more powerful than all of us”.

Soon after the news broke, a campaign to fight the proposals swung into action. Hundreds of people attended public meetings and thousands signed petitions.

MPs joined the battle, the issue was debated in parliament and the then flood minister Phil Woolas visited the coast last July, stating: “The scenario put forward by Natural England is not the flood defence policy of the government. I cannot see a situation where any elected government would allow the Norfolk Broads to flood.”

Today Natural England will belatedly publish the final version of its Broads report, one of four dealing with different areas of the country.

All reference to the four options for the Upper Thurne, including flooding, have now been taken out – even though the report does acknowledge a likely sea level rise of between 8cm and 77cm by the 2080s.

The report also mentions the need to consider “communities and their livelihoods” – a concern absent from the draft document – and talks of the need for “a socially just approach” which, in this context, means compensation for anyone that loses their property to the sea.

Referring to the original report, Shaun Thomas, Natural England’s East of England director, said: “It was a draft document that was leaked.

“The reaction of people was perfectly understandable, although it was disappointing it was leaked and got the coverage it did. Nevertheless, it has served to highlight the importance of climate change.”

He said Natural England had worked closely with community groups in revising it. “We haven’t just gone away and written this on our own,” he said.

“I think community leaders will look at this and say we’ve listened and that our new report is a healthy contribution. While they may still remain angry at the original leak and coverage we have recognised their concerns.”

The new reference to social justice has particularly pleased Malcolm Kerby , of Happisburgh-based Coastal Concerns Action Group, who called for such a pledge a year ago.

Yesterday he said: “I welcome the fact that Natural England now acknowledges that before any of these changes can take place, there has to be a full, effective social justice package in place. It’s incumbent on them to put a safety net in place before they make these announcements.”

But he said the omission of the four options did not guarantee the long-term future of the Broads.

Norman Lamb, Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, said: “One can’t escape the fact that a lot of damage and stress was caused last year, and a lot of lives disrupted.

“It shouldn’t have happened; it was badly handled. Obviously there was a leak, but it was inevitable that a document as sensitive as that would get into the public domain and I hope lessons have been learned from this exercise.

“The mass uprising last year in reaction to Natural England’s proposals has borne fruit in that we have had renewed defences; the dropping of these highly controversial options; a commitment from the chair of the Environment Agency that there must be compensation for people that lose their homes; Natural England committing themselves to social justice; and we anticipate movement from the government on this critical issue.

“It has demonstrated the value of campaigning and presenting a united front: MPs, councillors, parish councils and communities all speaking with one voice, demanding justice, backed up by the EDP.

“When the report was leaked it was of such public significance that it had to be reported. The EDP was right to do so and the impact now has been that we have made some advances.”

Mike Walker, chairman of the North-East Norfolk Coastal Parishes Group, said: “Natural England have talked to the community. The withdrawal of the four options, although only a small part of the report, demonstrates that they have understood and acted on our concerns.

“This is only the start of a process that is going to go on in perpetuity. There will be change arising from climate change, but the important thing is everybody works together.”

Eric Lindo, joint co-ordinator of Hickling Environment and Residents’ Alliance (HEARA) said: “The support from Natural England for holding the existing defence line is the best outcome we could have hoped for in their final report.”

“It is important that Natural England continues to develop its relationship with local communities. We are pleased to have received from them the assurance that there will be further discussions in the future and we look forward to working with them”.

Story in the Eastern Daily Press

Devastating proposals to surrender 25 square miles of the Broads to the North Sea have been officially dropped by government conservation advisers.

Natural England has bowed to public opinion over the proposals, which would have resulted in the flooding of at least six villages, and the destruction of hundreds of homes, thousands of acres of farmland and some of Norfolk’s top wildlife sites.

The proposals caused outrage after they were first revealed by the EDP a year ago, prompting thousands of people to campaign against them.

Natural England had suggested surrender to the sea as one of four options in a draft report into how climate change might affect the Broads, but has now removed these from the final version of the document, published today .

In the report, Natural England confirms its support for the current policy of holding the current line of sea defences along the coast between Eccles and Winterton for at least 50 years, stressing that it is an adviser on flood risk policy and not the final decision-maker.

But it warns of the threat posed by rising sea levels, adding: “The future of the Broads depends on the actions we all take today to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

“This, combined with decisions we make about managing our landscapes to adapt to unavoidable climate change, will determine whether we continue to have a high-quality landscape that is cherished and respected by all.”

The revised document also stresses the need to consider the impact on communities and their livelihoods in responding to climate change and acknowledges the need for a “socially just approach” and “adequate tools and resources” to help them.

The concessions have been welcomed by campaigners, including North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb, who said: “This will come as a significant reassurance to communities thrown into turmoil last year.”

But he said the battle was not won, adding: “I will never be complacent on this issue. We must always remain vigilant. The report does highlight there is a threat from the sea level rising.”

A draft copy of the report, obtained by the EDP last year, listed four possible scenarios for dealing with climate change in the Upper Thurne basin the most radical of which was to allow the sea to penetrate coastal defences between Horsey and Winterton in between 20 and 50 years’ time, flooding an area as far inland as Potter Heigham and Stalham.

An accompanying map showed the villages of Eccles, Sea Palling, Waxham, Hickling, Horsey and Potter Heigham as potentially being flooded.

Shaun Thomas, Natural England’s East of England director, said that document had now been significant revised in response to public opinion.

“We have actually taken out reference to specific flood risk options for the coast and Broads in the light of feedback we have received from local communities and MPs,” he said.

“There’s no doubt they have been taken out as a response to the overall reaction, not just from the public but from local MPs. Public opinion is very important to us.

“We have reflected on that and, given the concerns that were raised, we have taken out those plans and the lines on the map which caused such concerns in those communities. We listened to the concerns that were raised. We acknowledge there were concerns about what we were proposing.”

According to the report, the climate in the Broads over the next century is likely to become warmer and wetter in winter, and hotter and drier in summer, while sea levels will rise.

Rainfall intensity will probably increase and extreme events such as heat waves and storms are predicted to become more frequent and severe.

The report concludes that the Broads will, over time, become more brackish, with freshwater habitats becoming salty. The coastal frontage will come under increased pressure from sea level rise and increased storminess.

Wetlands will be damaged by the repeated cycle of flooding and drought, and some plants and animals will be lost and replaced by non-native and invasive species.

Increased erosion, the arrival of new pests and diseases, reduced summer water levels and algal blooms in broads and rivers are also predicted.

Story by Jon Welch in the Eastern Daily Press

Large areas of the Norfolk Broads are likely to disappear by 2100, according to scientists.

The stark warning will be issued at an international climate change conference this week when experts will outline their latest findings on rising sea levels and global warming.

Over the three-day event in Copenhagen, which starts tomorrow , scientists will reveal how they have now realised that sea levels pose a far bigger eco threat than previously though and will sound an alarm over new floodings – enough to swamp the Norfolk Broads.

A report two years ago concluded that sea-level rises of between 20 and 60 centimetres would occur by 2100.

But now, as Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets are melting faster than previously estimated, this figure is now suggested to be up to two metres.

Experts from the University of East Anglia said the rising sea levels will have a “huge impact”.

Dr Bruce Tofield, from the UEA’s school of environmental sciences, said: “People are beginning to worry that it’s going to be higher than previously thought.

“I’m sure it’s true it will have a huge impact on the Norfolk Broads. It won’t make Norfolk uninhabitable but it will have a big impact.

“Few people think it will be two metres but that’s the uncertainty. It’s going to be equally damaging to low-lying area in Shanghai and Calcutta and will have an impact on hundreds and millions of people, not just Norfolk. And if people are being displaced, migrating away from these places, then it will have a huge impact worldwide.”

Back in 2007, the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) presented its most up-to-date report on the likely impact of global warming, predicting sea-level rises of between 20 and 60 centimetres over the next 100 years.

But now, after studying satellite images and seeing land sheets breaking up faster than anticipated, scientists are suggesting sea-level rises could easily top a metre by 2100.

The result will be the appearance of the “super-surge”, a climatic double whammy that will savage low-lying regions that include Britain’s south-eastern coastline, in particular East Anglia and the Thames Estuary, along with cities such as London, Portsmouth and Hull, which are rated as being particularly vulnerable to sea-level rise.

The future of the Broads has been the subject of much debate in recent years, with a controversial report published by government body Natural England suggesting some sea defences should be abandoned.

Story by Kate Scotter in the Norwich Evening News

Scientists will warn this week that rising sea levels, triggered by global warming, pose a far greater danger to the planet than previously estimated. There is now a major risk that many coastal areas around the world will be inundated by the end of the century because Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets are melting faster than previously estimated.

Low-lying areas including Bangladesh, Florida, the Maldives and the Netherlands face catastrophic flooding, while, in Britain, large areas of the Norfolk Broads and the Thames estuary are likely to disappear by 2100. In addition, cities including London, Hull and Portsmouth will need new flood defences.

“It is now clear that there are going to be massive flooding disasters around the globe,” said Dr David Vaughan, of the British Antarctic Survey. “Populations are shifting to the coast, which means that more and more people are going to be threatened by sea-level rises.”

The issue is set to dominate the opening sessions of the international climate change conference in Copenhagen this week, when scientists will outline their latest findings on a host of issues concerning global warming. The meeting has been organised to set the agenda for this December’s international climate talks (also to be held in Copenhagen), which will draw up a treaty to replace the current Kyoto protocol for limiting carbon dioxide emissions.

Read the full story by Robin McKie, science editor in the Observer

More than 360,000 cubic metres of sand will be added to a beach on the Norfolk Coast as part of an £8.8m project to prevent the Broads from flooding.

Work to limit the flood risk to the Broads from the coast between Happisburgh and Winterton is well under way and recharging the beach with sand begins on Monday .

Three out of nine new rock groynes have been finished with rocks brought in by sea from Norway on a 20,000 tonne barge. They replace existing timber and steel groynes between Horsey and Winterton Ness Gap.

Other parts of the scheme involve recharging the beach with 360,000m3 of sand between Sea Palling and Poplar Farm Gap, reconstruction of a 275m long section of rock revetment (rocks placed to protect the seawall from wave action) at Eccles and 25,000m3 of beach recycling (the relocation of a small amount of sand from behind a reef to an area where the beach is low, also at Eccles).

The scheme is a direct result of the Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) for the area, which recommended that along the coast from Eccles to Winterton the line of existing flood defences should be held until at least the medium term (the next 50 years) and will be completed by early January next year.

The new groynes will add to a series of offshore reefs constructed around the site in 1993 and 1997 to protect the most vulnerable areas and bring protection to 500 houses.

Story by Dan Grimmer in the Norwich Evening News

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