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The Agreement (Statement of Principles) between Government and the Association of British Insurers (ABI)  which commits insurers to continue to offer insurance to existing customers where they are at significant risk, if there are plans in place to reduce that risk within five years, is due to expire in 2013  Defra  has worked closely with the insurance industry to ensure that insurance remains widely available in England after this point and Government has developed and analysed the options explored by previously established working groups . Today an update report on progress has been released. Please click here to read the full document.

Following a meeting by the Environment Agency’s Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (RFCC) on 11 January 2012 a news release has been issued by the Environment Agency covering the amount of levy funding for 2012/2013 for local flood defences schemes across Sussex, Kent, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. A list of projects to be funded by the levy and national funding will be confirmed at the Environment Agency Board meeting on 8 February 2012.

A further drop-in session has been arranged by the Environment Agency for Wednesday, 18 January 2012 (5.00-7.00 pm) in order to provide local residents with an opportunity to meet with the Civil Engineering Company who will carry out the upcoming construction works at Rye Harbour. The site liaison officer will also be in attendance during the drop-in session.

Every stretch of coastline represents an ‘asset’ in the Environment Agency’s National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Strategy for England which describes the EA’s strategic approach to maintaining flood and coastal risk (FCRM) assets. Those FCRM assets which protect only  a small number of properties or low value land where the financial cost of maintaining existing sea defences  would outweigh the benefits achieved in these areas (i.e. ‘benefits’ referring to the damages avoided as a result of flood protection) will be denied funding from Government to enable continued maintenance or improvements of sea defences . Rural areas  are therefore far more likely to fall within this category of the protocol and the Romney Marsh is no exception. Given that this new protocol will be  applied as of 2012 and is set to continue for the foreseeable future we need to ensure that Government is made fully aware of every benefit we have to offer in order to qualify for funding. Click here for more information.

Government continues to develop and analyse options explored by the flood insurance working groups for managing the financial risk of flooding beyond 30 June 2013 when the current agreement between Government and the insurance industry expires. Ministers gave a progress update on this work on 19 December 2011 and published the final report of the flood insurance working groups. The progress report states that Government and the insurance industry remain committed to making sure that flood insurance remains widely available . Government is now working towards an announcement due in Spring 2012 which should outline a new shared understanding setting out more clearly what customers could expect from Insurers and Government. You will find more information on DEFRA’s website.

Following the storms and recent tidal events of this week and consequent loss of shingle the Environment Agency has provided an update to DOC outlining the situation and setting out the course of action they intend to take.

Kent County Council has arranged a public meeting in connection with the planning application jointly submitted by the Environment Agency/EDF Energy (KCC/SH/0381/2011) for shingle recycling from the Dungeness Borrow Pit, Dungeness to secure an economic and sustainable maintenance option for flood defences on the Marsh. The purpose of this meeting is for members of the Planning Applications Committee to gather views of those concerned with and affected by the application. The event will take place on 17 January 2012 at 6.30 pm in the Lydd Community Hall, Manor Road, Lydd, TN29 9HU. The DOC Committee supports this application and hopes that members of DOC and the general public will come along to have their say!

Massive shingle loss at Denge

This photograph was taken  from in front of the Lookout at Denge at midday on 13 December 2011 at a 3.3m tide , the tide before (midnight) having been 3.4m with gale force SW winds. It shows just how vulnerable the Power Station Switch House has become. The next tides are also 3.3m but the Met Office show the winds at all points as the depression sweeps over. The shingle at the end of the road is now at the same level as the road itself and you can see the wrack mark in places. 3.8m tides are predicted at Christmas and if the winds pick up there will be serious problems of flooding!

Drop-In Session, Dungeness 13.12.2011

In the light of the recent planning application submitted to KCC for shingle recycling from Dungeness a  public drop-in session took place on Tuesday, 13 December 2012 at the Britannia Inn, Dungeness . It provided  an  excellent  opportunity for local people to talk about the proposal  and how impacts of the works on local people can be minimised. Staff from the Environment Agency , Dungeness B Power Station ,  Natural England, and DOC Committee Members were at hand to answer any queries.

The Environment Agency has provided DOC with a very useful FAQ information sheet identifying some of the concerns raised by local residents in the light of this planning application. A public drop-in session has been arranged by the Environment Agency at the Britannia Inn, Dungeness Road, Dungeness for Tuesday, 13 December 2011 (6.00 pm - 9.00 pm) . All members of the public are invited to attend.