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Last Updated: 12:01am BST 31/03/2008 Further plans to abandon parts of the coast of Eastern England to the
sea are expected from the Environment Agency this year, following the
suggestion that six villages around the Norfolk Broads might have to be
given up to flooding within the next 100 years.
There are fears that dozens of historic villages would be abandoned to
the sea. Norman Lamb, the North Norfolk Liberal Democrat MP, said: "There would
be churches lost, whole communities lost and a lot of older historic
buildings." The Church at Waxham in Norfolk - Flooding could destroy Norfolk villages
At risk: village churches across Norfolk, such as this one in Waxham,
are in danger of being abandoned to the sea He added: "Our first priority is that we must defend these communities
and ensure that we commit resources recognising the history of the region." Coastal campaigners expect land from The Wash to Kelling along the north
Norfolk coast and between Lowestoft and Felixstowe in Suffolk to fall
victim to the agency's plans for "no active intervention" to stop
coastal erosion. The latest revisions of the agency's shoreline
management plans, originally drawn up in 1996, predict sea levels will
rise by up to three feet as a result of climate change. The policy would
see hundreds of homes destroyed and swathes of the counties' heritage
wiped out. The withdrawal of maintenance for sea defences along some sections of
the coast was proposed two years ago and has already had an impact.
Malcolm Kerby, from the Coastal Concern Action Group, based in the
fastest eroding section of coast around Happisburgh, said: "These plans
have devalued property as far as two miles inland by as much as 30 per
cent. When property values fall through the floor that is what ruins
people's lives." Concern about the potential abandonment to the sea of 25 square miles of
the Broads emerged last week out of a workshop run by the Agency's
sister body, Natural England, which has been undertaking technical
research on the impact of climate change on four areas - the Shropshire
Hills, Dorset Downs and Cranbourne Chase, Cumbria High Fell and the
Norfolk Broads. Natural England's study follows the Environment Agency's proposed
withdrawal of maintenance of sea defences in the Blyth estuary, between
Walberswick and Southwold, last autumn, which campaigners believe is
likely to be a test case for estuaries along the coast. Campaigners say
a policy change at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs has led to the presumption that coastal management will be
withdrawn in areas where the cost to the public cannot be justified. Under current laws, residents whose homes are destroyed would not be
eligible for compensation and no discussions have taken place to change
the situation, according to Mr Lamb. A spokesman for English Heritage,
which aims to protect and promote England's historic environment, said:
"Norfolk's history as a major international trading region has left it
with a rich collection of listed medieval buildings, especially its fine
churches." The six Norfolk villages at risk under the Natural England proposal are
Eccles, Sea Palling, Waxham, Horsey, Hickling and Potter Heigham.
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