This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/suffolk/8535254.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Village lost to sea in coast plan | Village lost to sea in coast plan |
| (4 days later) | |
| A village and more than 1,000 acres of land would be lost to the sea if plans laid out in a blueprint for tackling erosion in Suffolk are accepted. | A village and more than 1,000 acres of land would be lost to the sea if plans laid out in a blueprint for tackling erosion in Suffolk are accepted. |
| The Shoreline Management Plan for the area calls for the continued defence of major towns and villages from flooding and coastal erosion. | The Shoreline Management Plan for the area calls for the continued defence of major towns and villages from flooding and coastal erosion. |
| But it also says over the next 30 to 40 years the village of Covehithe may be surrendered to the sea. | |
| Property and historic sites in Easton Bavents and Dunwich will also be lost. | Property and historic sites in Easton Bavents and Dunwich will also be lost. |
| The plan, developed by a group of partners led by Suffolk Coastal District Council and which goes before Suffolk County Council's cabinet next Tuesday, also says: | The plan, developed by a group of partners led by Suffolk Coastal District Council and which goes before Suffolk County Council's cabinet next Tuesday, also says: |
| • Sea defences at Lowestoft, Southwold and Felixstowe will be maintained | • Sea defences at Lowestoft, Southwold and Felixstowe will be maintained |
| • The main area of Kessingland will be protected and the A12 will be defended | • The main area of Kessingland will be protected and the A12 will be defended |
| • Some land and property will be lost at Pakefield | • Some land and property will be lost at Pakefield |
| • The historic village of Covehithe, including its 15th Century church, will be lost to the sea | |
| • About 1,000 acres (400 hectares) of land between Kessingland and Southwold will be lost. | • About 1,000 acres (400 hectares) of land between Kessingland and Southwold will be lost. |
| Edward Vere Nicoll, estate manager for The Benacre Estate - which owns a large portion of land at Covehithe and the surrounding area, hit out at the plan. | |
| Local people are all pretty disgusted and seriously worried about it Edward Vere Nicoll, Benacre Estate manager | Local people are all pretty disgusted and seriously worried about it Edward Vere Nicoll, Benacre Estate manager |
| He accepted the need for a "managed retreat" of the coast, but not for the wholesale "sacrifice" of large tracts of land and a village. | He accepted the need for a "managed retreat" of the coast, but not for the wholesale "sacrifice" of large tracts of land and a village. |
| He said the plan ignored the willingness of landowners to pay for work to help protect the coastline. | He said the plan ignored the willingness of landowners to pay for work to help protect the coastline. |
| "Local people are all pretty disgusted and seriously worried about it," he said. | "Local people are all pretty disgusted and seriously worried about it," he said. |
| A report to the council says due to rising sea levels, erosion risk management is a priority. | A report to the council says due to rising sea levels, erosion risk management is a priority. |
| St Andrew's in Covehithe is threatened by coastal erosion | |
| It recommends the plan be endorsed by the council, but Guy McGregor, portfolio holder for roads, transport and planning, stressed that any final decision is still open for discussion. | It recommends the plan be endorsed by the council, but Guy McGregor, portfolio holder for roads, transport and planning, stressed that any final decision is still open for discussion. |
| "We simply have to engage with communities, which is why it is going before our cabinet committee," he said. | "We simply have to engage with communities, which is why it is going before our cabinet committee," he said. |
| Mr McGregor said that the cost involved in protecting some parts of the coast could be huge. | Mr McGregor said that the cost involved in protecting some parts of the coast could be huge. |
| A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency said shoreline management plans provided a framework for dealing with coastal flooding and erosion risks to people. | A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency said shoreline management plans provided a framework for dealing with coastal flooding and erosion risks to people. |
| "As the east coast has always and will always change, we need to plan now how we are going to deal with the likely changes over the next 100 years, as it is unrealistic to expect that we can maintain the coastline in all places as it is now," the spokeswoman said. | "As the east coast has always and will always change, we need to plan now how we are going to deal with the likely changes over the next 100 years, as it is unrealistic to expect that we can maintain the coastline in all places as it is now," the spokeswoman said. |