The River Defence Committee
The Alde and Ore Association set up the River Defence Committee in April 2007 at a time when the Association was the forerunner locally in pressing for additional Government expenditure on flood defences.
The Association produces an annual photographic report on the state of the river defences (available below). These reports are sent to the Environment Agency to help them assess their capital and maintenance budgets for the following year. Additional reports are produced after a major event such as the tidal surges that occurred in November 2007 and more recently on the night of 5/6th December 2013. The latter was, in many parts of the river, greater than the devastating surge experienced in 1953. Significant damage was experienced particularly on the coastal defences at Slaughden, Hazlewood Marsh was totally inundated and remains so and Snape village had catastrophic damage with 27 houses being badly flooded.
Our estuary and rivers, along with the coastline are the defining natural features for our region. We all share a responsibility to look after them so that future generations can enjoy their unique character, as we in our turn have been privileged to do. By joining the Association today you can help support us in our efforts to keep this estuary as it is. This will ensure that our local economy, homes and livelihoods are not simply washed out to sea.
Reports for 2019
River bank assessments are available as PDF files, grouped by flood cell. Click on the links below to download the reports.
River Bank Assessments 2019
FC 1 - Boyton and Butley Marshes
FC 2 - Butley Mills
FC 3 - Ferry Cottage to Chillesford Lodge: No significant change in year.
FC 4.1 - Butley River and Gedgrave Marsh
FC 4.2 - Orford Sailing Club to Chantry Point
FC 4.3 - Pump House to Orford Town
FC 4.4 - Chapmans Creek to Pump House: outstanding.
FC 5 - Chapmans Creek to The Anchorage Iken
FC 6 and 7 - Snape North and South Bank
FC 8 - Blackheath Estate, Ham Creek
FC 9 - Brick Dock to Hazelwood Marshes Breach
FC 10 - Brick Dock to Martello Tower
FC 2 - Butley Mills
FC 3 - Ferry Cottage to Chillesford Lodge
FC 4.1 - Butley River and Gedgrave Marsh
FC 4.2 - Orford Sailing Club to Chantry Point
FC 4.3 - Pump House to Orford Town
FC 4.4 - Chapmans Creek to Pump House
FC 5 - Chapmans Creek to The Anchorage Iken
FC 6 and 7 - Snape North and South Bank
FC 8 - Blackheath Estate, Ham Creek
FC 9 - Brick Dock to Hazelwood Marshes Breach
FC 10 - Brick Dock to Martello Tower
River Bank Assessments 2017
FC 2 - Butley Mills
FC 3 - Ferry Cottage to Chillesford Lodge
FC 4.1 - Butley River and Gedgrave Marsh
FC 4.2 - Orford Sailing Club to Chantry Point
FC 4.3 - Pump House to Orford Town
FC 4.4 - Chapmans Creek to Pump House
FC 5 - Chapmans Creek to The Anchorage Iken
FC 6 and 7 - Snape North and South Bank
FC 8 - Blackheath Estate, Ham Creek
FC 9 - Brick Dock to Hazelwood Marshes Breach
FC 10 - Brick Dock to Martello Tower Part 1 River walls
River Bank Assessments 2016
FC 2 - Butley Mills
FC 3 - Ferry Cottage to Chillesford Lodge
FC 4.1 - Butley River and Gedgrave Marsh
FC 4.2 - Orford Sailing Club to Chantry Point
FC 4.3 - Pump House to Orford Town - no report
FC 4.4 - Chapmans Creek to Pump House
FC 5 - Chapmans Creek to The Anchorage Iken
FC 6 and 7 - Snape North and South Bank
FC 8 - Blackheath Estate, Ham Creek
FC 9 - Brick Dock to Hazelwood Marshes Breach
FC 10 - Brick Dock to Martello Tower
River Bank Assessments 2015
FC 2 - Butley Mills
FC 3 - Ferry Cottage to Chillesford Lodge
FC 4.1 - Butley River and Gedgrave Marsh
FC 4.2 - Orford Sailing Club to Chantry Point
FC 4.3 - Pump House to Orford Town
FC 4.4 - Chapmans Creek to Pump House
FC 5 - Chapmans Creek to The Anchorage Iken
FC 6 and 7 - Snape North and South Bank
FC 8 - Blackheath Estate, Ham Creek
FC 9 - Brick Dock to Hazelwood Marshes Breach
FC 10 - Brick Dock to Martello Tower
River Bank Assessments 2014
FC 1 - TM366440 to Butley Mills
FC 2 - Butley Mills
FC 3 - Chillesford Wall to Chillesford Cliff
FC 4.1 - Gedgrave and Sudbourne Marshes
FC 4.2 - Orford to Chantry Point
FC 4.3 - Chantry Point to Pump House
FC 4.4 - Pump House to Chapmans Creek
FC 5 - Chapmans Creek to The Anchorage Iken
FC 6 - Iken to Snape South Bank
FC 7 - Iken to Snape North Bank
FC 8 - New England Farm to Little Japan
FC 10 - Brick Dock to Martello Tower
River Bank Assessments following the surge tide on 5 December 2013
River Bank Assessments 2012
FC 2 - Butley Mills
FC 3 - Chillesford Marshes
FC 4 - Gedgrave and Sudbourne Marshes
FC 5 - We were unable to access FC 5 (Iken Marshes) in 2012 due to bird nesting restrictions.
FC 6 and 7 - Snape to Langham Bridge
FC 8 - Ham Creek Marshes
FC 9 - Hazelwood Marshes
FC 10 - Aldeburgh and Haven Marshes
FC 11 12 and 13 - NT and RSPB
Reports for 2007 - 2011
To review the previous River Defence Committee Bulletins please download from this list
July 2007 Bulletin No.2 Report on state of river defences.
October 2007 Bulletin No.3 Report on meetings with Environment Agency.
December 2007 Bulletin No.4 Report on river defences post the 9th November surge.
April 2008 Annual General Meeting of the River Defence Committee Minutes.
April 2008 RDC Annual General Meeting Minutes - Danger! men at work adding these Minutes
April 2009 RDC report - Snape to Orford.
April 2009 RDC report - Orford to Shingle Street
April 2010 RDC report - Danger! Men at work adding this Report