Sir Richard Branson at Dungeness

DOC was presented with an excellent opportunity to fly its flag during a recent visit by Richard Branson to Dungeness when he attempted to kite-surf across the Channel.  Crowds of people watched the event which unfortunately had to be finally abandoned  due to adverse weather conditions but the mood  remained upbeat and cheerful. Richard mingled with the onlookers and must be one of the world’s most approachable and friendly billionaires!

l.t.r. David Oliver (DOC Vice Chairman) Lt.Col. Duthoit (Deputy Camp Commander), B.Bass (DOC)

DOC was afforded a rare opportunity to receive a guided tour of the Lydd Ranges and its extensive facilities. It enabled us to experience at first hand the very important role played by the MOD within our local area and re-emphasised the need to ensure that improvements to our sea defences are of the utmost importance. Not only are the Ranges vital on a national level to continue facilitating the training of our troops prior to their deployment abroad, but by their very nature the Ranges also provide much needed local employment to the Marsh, thus contributing heavily to our local economy.

With the risk of coastal flooding ever increasing and improvements to sea defences for the Lydd Ranges not scheduled for completion until 2020, the present inadequate standard of sea defences along the Lydd Ranges represents not only a potential danger to the Marsh itself, but also to its communities.

DOC is committed to lobby all relevant Government Agencies in order to expedite and achieve adequate sea defences for the whole of the Marsh. Our thanks go to Lt. Col. Duthoit (Deputy Commander/Lydd Camp) for the excellent and very informative tour.

DOC is delighted to report that the two newly elected Members  of Parliament , Amber Rudd  MP ( Hastings & Rye) & Damian Collins MP, ( Folkestone & Hythe) - responsible for both constituencies across East Sussex as well as  Kent  covering the Marsh - attended a briefing meeting arranged by DOC at the Guild Hall in Lydd.

DOC had an  excellent opportunity  during the meeting to emphasise the importance of completing much urgently needed improvements to our  sea defences  here on the Marsh in order to safeguard local communities from flooding  and we are extremely  grateful and  encouraged by the  commitment  displayed  by both MPs. Follow-up meetings have been scheduled to take place in the near future.

Lydd Ranges 16.7.2010

The potential flood threat to the Marsh is not only a Winter occurrence! During the last 24 hours massive amounts of shingle have been eroded at the Lydd Ranges and Jury’s Gap Lookout due to high winds coupled with high tides. This has yet again left a ‘cliff face’ at the edge of the erosion . Given that the present standard of flood defence is already very low in this location immediate action needs to  be taken now  to remedy this before the whole situation becomes even more critical for the Marsh!

At Galloways these conditions have created even more challenges to the beach and the Lydd Ranges. From the photographs you can see that the crest has been flattened by the  recent extreme unseasonable weather. Beach levels have dropped, exposing even more foundations and remains of the old buildings. The shingle placed to shore up the MOD Lookout Tower after the storms of 1 April 2010 has been eroded away again, leaving the lookout tower at risk. At it stands, the foreshore in this location is placing the MOD ranges at further increased  risk and tide sequences for August and September 2010 are forecast to rise!

Once completed this phase of sea defence will reduce the risk of flooding for nearly two and a half thousand homes in Dymchurch but will also  form an important link in the  much needed overall sea defence  improvement schemes proposed for the  Marsh.

The  Environment Agency has stated that communities at risk from flooding due to potential sea level rises (believed to be caused by climate change) will need to be protected and this  could  affect many coastal areas (see map).  It remains to be seen how the Environment Agency intends to  solve this situation.

Site Meeting at Dungeness

DOC  arranged  a site meeting  with key stakeholders at two crucial locations on the Marsh, i.e. Dungeness and Galloways,  which took place this afternoon.  The purpose of this site visit was to  demonstrate to Government Agencies the need for urgency to address the issue of much needed interim coastal protection measures until the entire proposed sea defence scheme for  Romney Marsh can be successfully implemented.

Representatives  from  British Energy, DOC, the Environment Agency, Internal Drainage Board, MOD and Natural England initially visited Dungeness to see at first hand the surplus accretion of shingle in this location. The accretion has occurred over the past few years since recycling of shingle  from here to Jury’s  Gap had been halted. Renewed recycling of this material potentially would not only  shore up  areas in other vulnerable locations along our coastline,  but would also be cost saving to the taxpayer!

Moving on to Galloways we were able to see at first hand a stark contrast - the visible loss of much needed  shingle , leaving the area extremely vulnerable to flooding, particularly in adverse weather conditions. The depletion of shingle on the Lydd Ranges was also very much in evidence from this vantage point and it was agreed that urgent discussions will need to take place in order to prevent a potential disaster occurring  in the Autumn when high Spring tides will return.

The site meeting proved to be very productive and encouraging but it will take a positive approach by Government Agencies to achieve the desired result and prevent the Marsh from flooding. At present  flood protection for the Marsh is at its absolute minimum in many locations  and we really have no time to lose! A follow-up meeting has been scheduled for the 20 July 2010.

Public Exhibition 21.5.2010-Camber

On the 21 May 2010 a public exhibition was held by the Environment Agency in Camber. Members from the local community were able to scrutinise the detailed proposals for the Broomhill Sea Defence scheme and staff from the EA as well as DOC were on hand to answer any queries by members of the public. Rother District Councillor Nick Ramus was also in attendance.

The consultation period for the Broomhill Sea Defence Scheme is now nearing its end and there is not much time left to leave your feedback/comments.  All responses must be received by the Environment Agency  latest by 17 June 2010. You can still view the scheme design posters at the Camber Castle Public House, Lydd Road, Camber and /or directly on the Environment Agency’s website. Please don’t miss the opportunity to have your say and express your opinion .