Coastal Erosion Steering Group
Activity Update
Chairman's Report
Firstly may I thank the Parish Council for the opportunity to use the Village website to help spread the word on Erosion. We will produce another Erosion Newsletter in the New Year.
The group continue to meet on a regular basis and our last meeting was on 3 October 2006 when a wide range of events was discussed and I include some of the detail in this report.
Following the recent flooding in the Village, from heavy rainfall and drainage problems, (and our sympathy goes out to those who were affected) it is important to note that our group does not address flooding issues. Erosion is very much about loss of property, livelihood, land, wildlife habitat and the re-shaping of our coastline. On occasions it can lead to flooding but we don't see that as an immediate problem from the Sea at Winterton.
There are a number of vacancies in our group so if you have any interest in Erosion and would like to be actively involved then please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Visits
Erosion has moved up the political ladder, we are glad to say, and we who live on one of the most dynamic coasts in Great Britain have become the place for our "Great and Good" to visit.
Mr Campbell (Lib Dem) attended a briefing on climate change at the UEA and it included a visit to Winterton to see the reality of erosion and the effect of sea level rise.
Mr Peter Ainsworth (Shadow Environment Secretary) continued the top level political interest about coastal erosion issues with a visit to our coast and said he had serious concerns about the proposed Shoreline Management Plan. It may surprise him to know we have the same "Serious Concerns".
Mr Ian Pearson, the newly appointed Environment Minister, did something his predecessor Eliot Morley never got around to and paid us a visit. The event was broadcast live on BBC Radio 5 live Breakfast Show from Happisburgh and included a live "phone in" to the experts. The programme was excellent. To have a UK wide audience to debate and inform on a subject so close to home was a real plus for our cause. Mr Pearson admitted that spending on sea and flood defences had been cut and offered little hope that it will rise in the future. So our battle for Social Justice continues.
Local Activity
At the Rural Community Partnership Meeting at Martham in September there were presentations from ourselves and the Scratby Group. Mr Tony Wright MP, a great supporter of our activity, also addressed the meeting as did Professor Tim O'Riordan from the Tyndall Centre at UEA. Tim is very involved in a detailed study of our area with a view to getting greater community involvement and input of the "Human Factor" to the Shoreline Management Plan consequences.
Our Coastline Today
The high tides (a 25 year high) came and went and due to favourable weather conditions no serious erosion happened directly in front of Winterton. To the North, where our sea wall exists and is maintained by the Environment Agency, there were no significant problems and the natural sediment recharge to the sand bank continues. To the South significant erosion into the dune system continues as does the effect on the Scratby cliffs and this is a serious concern for Great Yarmouth Borough Council who have responsibility for this section of our coastline. The debate continues about what to do next and how to fund it.
To contact our group write to the Chairman at:
13 Winmer Avenue
Winterton-on-Sea
Great Yarmouth
NR29 4BA
Or Phone: 01493 393843
Or Email: tceab@aol.com