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PUBLIC CONSULTATION

DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO HAVE YOUR SAY!

The Broomhill Sands Coastal Defence Scheme is now out for public consultation which will close on 16 June 2010. You can view and comment on the detailed plans  by attending the public exhibition at the Camber Memorial Hall on Friday,  21.5.2010 between 2.00pm - 8.00 pm or  by visiting the Environment Agency’s website. After the 21.5.2010 you will be able to view the plans in the Camber Castle Public House, Lydd Road, Camber during normal opening hours for a period of 4 weeks.  If you have any questions concerning the scheme  or wish to receive a hard copy  please email the EA Project Team at broomhill@environment-agency.gov.uk or write to:-

Jeremy Colbeck, Environment Agency, Guildborne House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 1LD

Your feedback on the scheme is important as the Environment Agency will carry out a final review of the proposed scheme layout, incorporating additional information, feedback and ideas where appropriate following the consultation period. The tendering process for the contract to build the scheme will follow upon final review before the Environment Agency plans to seek funding approval in December 2010.

Broomhill Sands

The Environment Agency has released their latest Newsletter regarding the proposed sea defence scheme for Broomhill Sands/Camber. The outline design phase has now been nearly completed and the draft designs will be presented at a Public Exhibition in the Camber Memorial Hall on 21 May 2010 between 2.00 - 8.00 pm. From 21 May 2010 onwards the information on the outline scheme can also be viewed on the Environment Agency’s website.

Don’t miss this opportunity to view the plans and have an informal chat with EA staff or members from the DOC Committee.

As member of the NVCC (National Voice for Coastal Communities) DOC was given an opportunity to meet with Senior Staff from the Environment Agency at their  headquarters in London yesterday in order to highlight various concerns and issues arising from sea defence policies affecting the Marsh. The three hour meeting proved to be very productive and a follow-up meeting is planned to take place in the near future. DOC welcomes this opportunity and hopes that relevant matters raised will be addressed by the Environment Agency in order to further improve our working relationship.

During a meeting of NVCC members,  which followed the EA meeting,  DOC was elected as Vice Chair of the NVCC.

DOC Committee Members have been busy behind the scenes attending meetings with Natural England, both in London and on regional level,  discussing progress on the Broomhill  Sea Defence Scheme with the Environment Agency and generally ensuring that we remain actively involved on behalf of all our members and local communities to ensure that adequate provisions are put into place to protect the Marsh from flooding.

In these uncertain times it is absolutely imperative to maintain the high  level profile DOC has established in order to  keep the issue of  sea defences at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Further meetings are scheduled  to take place during May with various Government Agencies and a more detailed  summarising report will be posted on the website shortly. A newsletter from the Environment Agency is also due to be issued in the near future.

Flooded Dengemarsh Sewer

DOC is calling for emergency repairs as the sea over-tops the southern shore! The recent extreme weather has severely damaged our shingle defences and DOC is calling for the planned sea defence schemes to be accelerated. Areas such as Dengemarsh, Galloways and Jury’s Gap have seen massive damage caused  to the shingle crest during the recent high tides and storm conditions and the situation is critical. Our Technical Officer Tony Hills has carried out a site inspection and has alerted the Environment Agency.

Defra has just published  “Adapting to Coastal Change: Developing a Policy Framework.” The document sets out Defra’s ideas and guidance on how communities should plan for change as well as looking at the  implications/impacts  for  communities,  business, local infrastructure  etc.  It is the first stage in an  evolving  framework of policy and guidance from Defra on supporting communities to adapt to coastal change and an absolute ‘must’ for anyone to read who lives or works in a coastal area.

AGM - Guild Hall, Lydd

DOC  held its AGM  on 26.3.2010 at the Guild Hall in Lydd which was very well attended. We were joined on the night by many of our members, supporters, stakeholders and council representatives from across the Marsh.

After a welcoming speech by DOC’s Chairman, Terry Preston, our Hon. Consultant Malcolm Kerby from Norfolk (NVCC/CCAG) addressed the meeting and emphasised the  remarkable achievements of DOC  since its inauguration. He expressed the importance of our continued  negotiations for adequate sea defences in our area on local, regional  and  senior national level  with Government Agencies and congratulated us on our success so far. Read more »

DOC is holding its AGM on 26 March 2010 at the Guild Hall, High Street, Lydd (7.30-9.00pm) and we look forward welcoming all of our members, supporters and invited guests to this event.  During the meeting DOC’s Technical Officer Tony Hills will give a PowerPoint presentation followed by a short Q & A session.

Floods in France

Last weekend Britain was lashed by gales and massive sea swells but once again the Marsh was ‘lucky’ ( if you can call it that)  and escaped the worst  . The combination of spring tides coupled with high winds  and the consequent flooding could have potentially been disasterous for us all . It could have caused  damage similar to that experienced in France on the Atlantic coast between La Rochelle and  L’Aguillon sur Mer. Given that we too  live in a low-lying and predominantly below sea level area,  which is  shaped like a saucer, one break-through  in our sea defences would have been sufficient to cause the human drama and terrible toll as has been experienced abroad.

Read more »

There are 1,250 km of coastline in the South East of England with 403,000 properties (domestic and commercial) as risk from flooding, both fluvial and coastal  - the third highest regional total in England! To achieve long-term economic prosperity , decision makers need to consider flood and coastal risk in their plans,strategies and decisions.

The Environment Agency has just published its ninth ‘State of the Environment’ Report for the Southeast  and over the next two years  maps will be published to show those areas of the coast most at risk from coastal erosion , rendering these areas to higher risks of flooding.

DOC continues  to liaise on behalf of all  its members and coastal communities with all relevant Government Agencies to ensure that the Marsh remains adequately protected.