Title of our AGM guest speaker’s talk is announced
We are pleased to welcome John Curtin, the Environment Agency’s Executive Director of Flood and Coastal Risk Management as our guest speaker this year. His title is 2019 – The Year we took Climate Change seriously? This will be an important talk and not to be missed. The documents for the Meeting comprising the formal Notice and Agenda, Minutes of the 2018 AGM and the Report and Accounts for the year to 31st December 2018 can be downloaded by clicking here. We look forward to welcoming you to the meeting.
Save the date! The Association’s AGM will be held on Saturday 6th April.
The Association’s Annual General Meeting will be held at Thorpeness Country Club on Saturday, 6th April at 10.30am. Coffee will be available from 10am. Out speaker this year will be John Curtin who is the Environment Agency’s Executive Director of Flood and Coastal Risk Management. He is responsible for the directorate which sets the direction for flood and coastal risk management, manages key stakeholder relationships and gives expert advice to government to help develop and implement flood and coastal erosion risk management policies. The subject of his talk will be announced in the near future. We look forward to seeing as many members as possible at our AGM and to a lively discussion on the future of our estuary and the Association.
Alde and Ore Estuary Partnership Drop-in Session on 27th February
The Alde and Ore Estuary Partnership (AOEP) are holding a Drop-in Session at the Trask Cafe, Snape Maltings on Wednesday 27th February from 2pm to 8pm. There will be a presentation in the Recital Room at 6pm to update everyone on:- Costs of upgrading the estuary walls Projected income both from local fundraising and Government funding Everyone is welcome to drop in and discuss the project.
AGM for Suffolk Coast against Retreat (SCAR)
Suffolk Coast against Retreat (SCAR) are holding their annual meeting at the Riverside Centre Stratford St Andrew IP17 1LL on Saturday 2nd March 10.30am (coffee from 10am). The speaker will be Rt Hon Lord Deben PC on “Climate Change effect on Europe”. All are welcome. RSVP: louisa@outlook.in.
Third Stage of Sizewell C Public Consultation
The third stage of the Public Consultation has started and public exhibitions are being held locally until 22nd January. Responses to the updated proposals have to be lodged by 29th March. For full details including dates and locations of the exhibitions, please click here
Post-Christmas exercise!
Join volunteers on 20th January to help the Alde and Ore Estuary saltings projects.Join a work party to help with coppicing and, most especially, making brushwood bundles (it only takes 5 minutes to learn how to do bundles).The bundles will then be used in projects on the Alde and Ore to protect or enhance saltings. The work party is on Sunday 20th January 2019 at Butley Woods. 9.30 am to 3pm. Please wear stout boots or wellingtons, warm clothes and wet weather gear if necessary, gardening gloves are a good idea and bring a pack lunch. For more details and to register, please contact: Neil.Lister@suffolk.gov.uk.
Good news for Brick Dock – Developer’s planning appeal rejected
The developer’s appeal against the Suffolk Coast and District Council’s refusal of an application to build 43 houses at Brick Dock, many with views over the estuary, has been turned down. The Public Inquiry ran over six days in September with a good number of local people attending showing the strength of feeling about the proposal. The Association and many of its members individually contributed to the cost of an excellent barrister to put the case against the appeal which was supported by many residents in the estuary and the Aldeburgh Town Council. It is very encouraging that the case shows that we can work to protect the estuary from wholly inappropriate large developments. The Planning Inspector went into considerable detail on all the points made for and against the appeal. She found there were no exceptional circumstances allowing such a major development at the old Brickfields site in the AONB. For a full copy of her report click here.
Please give us your feedback for our response to the AONB Review
Part of the government’s 25 year environment plan was a commitment to carry out an independent review on the purposes of AONBs and their funding and governance. Association members can review the information here https://consult.defra.gov.uk/land-use/landscapes-review-call-for-evidence/. As the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB includes the Alde and Ore estuary, The Association intends to respond to the call for evidence. We would very much welcome members’ views and input to assist our response. If you have any comment to make please either use the form our website or email Keith Martin at martink345@btconnect.com. Please respond by 10 December so that we can draft our response in time for the 18 December deadline.
Chairman Alison Andrews is winner of volunteer award by Suffolk Coast Forum
Congratulations to Alison Andrews who was the winner of the Sue Allen Memorial Award, Volunteer Category 2018 for her outstanding contributions to Suffolk Coast and Estuary management. The award was presented at the Suffolk Coast & Estuaries 7th Annual Community Conference on Friday 12th October by David Richie, Chairman of Suffolk Coast Forum. In accepting the award, Alison said that it was really for all the many people who worked so hard for the Alde and Ore Estuary.
Brickdock Appeal hearing completed
The appeal by the developer of the proposed new site at Brick Dock, Aldeburgh has now been heard at a Public Inquiry. The Association gave evidence at the Inquiry supporting the Aldeburgh Town Council’s opposition to the scheme. The Planning Inspector, Lesley Coffey, will be making her recommendation to the Secretary of State shortly, hopefully before Christmas.