Environment Agency work to remove exposed piles at Slaughden Beach
The Environment Agency are removing sharp and exposed steel and timber piles on the SLaughden Beach. Areas of the beach near to piles being worked on will be temporarily closed and the work should be completed by mid-March. For full details, click here.
Suffolk Coast Against Retreat (SCAR) AGM on 7th March
Suffolk Coast Against Retreat (SCAR) is holding its AGM at the Riverside Centre, Stratford St Andrew on Saturday 7th March at 10.30am. The guest speaker is Karen Thomas, Head of Coastal Partnership East. As always, this will be an interesting meeting with updates on matters affecting the Suffolk Coast including our estuary.
The Association’s response to the Shoreline Management Plan review of Sudbourne Beach on Orfordness
The Association has lodged its response to the consultation on Shoreline Management Plan review of SudbourneBeach on Orfordness. The review was required because of the development of the Alde and Ore Estuary Plan. The current Shoreline Management Plan’s interim policy is that after 2025 no action will be taken to preserve Sudbourne Beach, the area south of the Aldeburgh Martello Tower. The review proposes that this policy be changed to one of Managed Realignment, providing resilience against erosion to prevent a permanent breach from forming. With the importance of preventing a breach at Slaughden, The Association has responded to the Consultation in favour of the conclusion of the review to change the policy after 2025. A copy of The Association’s submission can be seen here. We would strongly encourage members to write in support individually as well – the more who support the review, the more likely it is that its recommendations will be accepted. There is an information booklet at https://www.coasteast.org.uk/media/1422/slaughden-booklet-2019.pdf and more informationand a Consultation Feedback Form is at https://www.coasteast.org.uk/our-work/current-consultations/
Coastal Path update
Following the meeting hosted by The Association on 17th July, we have now issued an updated report of the meeting together with the slides from the presentation by Jonathan Clarke of Natural England, Coastal Path Delivery Team. These documents give you information about the proposed route for the coastal path around our estuary together with contact details if you wish to raise any issues with Natural England’s Delivery Team.
Jumbo’s Cottage update
The planning application in respect of the Rope Kiln at Jumbo’s Cottage was approved. The Association will continue to object to planning applications it considers detract from the natural beauty and tranquil environment of the Estuary.
The Association’s response to a further Jumbo’s Cottage planning application
The Association has responded to the planning application regarding the Rope Kiln building at Jumbo’s Cottage, Iken as follows:- Planning Application DC/19/1324/FUL – Jumbo’s Cottage, Iken From the Alde Ore Association (Registered Charity number 1154583) – The Alde and Ore Association exists to protect for the public benefit the Alde, Ore and Butley rivers and their banks from Shingle Street to their tidal limits together with features of public interest. It has some 2000 members. Whilst the Alde Ore Association is pleased to see that repairs to the Rope Kiln building are proposed we OBJECT to the proposed construction of the roof. Slate is not a local product. The evidence from the painting by George Rope in the Design and Access Statement does not support the use of slate. The roof of nearest neighbouring building, as well as that of the original Jumbo’s cottage, is traditional local tile. S85 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act requires the planning authority to have due regard to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty designation. The glass lantern will harm the tranquillity of the AONB due to the likelihood of light spillage at night, especially during winter where daylight hours are short. Such spillage needs measures to minimise it. ESDC/SCDC Planning Policy DM13(b) requires the alterations to respect the character of the existing building particularly where it is of traditional design. The introduction of foreign materials, as a roof covering and structure, fails to do this. Planning Policy DM21(c) requires alterations to existing buildings to respect the style, detailing and finishes of the original building. The original building would have had a local clay tile roof covering. Keith Martin Planning Trustee
A call from the AONB regarding redundant plastic tree guards
‘We have received from our local Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) a call for help in spotting redundant plastic trees guards while on your walks For details, click here.
Guidance for Members on the Consultation for the Draft National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England
The Environment Agency’s Consultation for the Draft National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England is vitally important to our Estuary and we are encouraging members to respond directly or to give us their views to help shape The Association’s response. To help with this, we have published a Guidance for Members outlining the issues involved.
Consultation for the Draft National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England
The Environment Agency have issued their consultation on a flood and coastal defence strategy (see Press release). Comments have to be made via the Consultation Hub by 4th July 2019. Alde and Ore Association Trustees are considering the document and several have attended the Anglian Eastern RFCC event at Snape Maltings on 5th June to hear more about it, to better prepare an Association response on a policy which may be very important in shaping any future plans for the Estuary. Briefly, the draft strategy looks ahead to actions between the years 2030 and 2050. It focusses in three key themes climate resilient places today’s growth and infrastructure- resilient to tomorrow’s climate a nation of climate champions, able to adapt to flooding and coastal change through innovation. All members are encouraged to respond to the consultation themselves and we have prepared a Guidance for Members summarising the issues involve. If there are particular points any one would like the Association to make please email info@aldeandore.org The Association will try to arrange a meeting about it, hopefully bringing in an Environment Agency representative to give background and explanations when needed. This will be at fairly short notice as the final response has to be in by 4th July. (watch this website for any further announcements.)
The Association’s responses to Sizewell C and Scottish Power Renewables consultations
The Association has lodged detailed responses both to the Sizewell C consultation and to Scottish Power Renewables’ plans for the onshore facilities for planned new windfarms. Both of these affect our area and our estuary which The Association exists to protect. The Sizewell C response is available in full here. The response to Scottish Power Renewables’ proposals is available here. .