The  AGM of the  All Party Parliamentary Group for Coastal and Marine Issues   took place   yesterday in the Houses of Parliament, Westminster  and DOC was there to represent the Marsh.

It was an excellent opportunity to engage with Lord Smith, Chairman of the Environment Agency , who was the Guest Speaker at the meeting and many pressing issues concerning  sea defences were addressed during a Q & A session which followed his address.

DOC was very much encouraged to hear from Lord Smith that he is a   staunch supporter of Coastal Groups who act on behalf of their wider coastal communities in order to redress the inequality of ‘bargaining power’. Lord Smith said that he hopes  this imbalance between the various Government Agencies who propose Shoreline Management Plans and those communities  who are directly affected by these decisions can be overcome and he is actively encouraging EA staff to work closely with coastal groups in order to give their concerns due consideration. He further hoped that greater transparency and increased  dissemination of information by Government Agencies with coastal groups  would form part of this newly founded initiative.