Zoom meeting on Sizewell C’s affect on the estuary
On 14th May, The Association held a Zoom meeting to discuss the effects of the proposed Sizewell C development with speakers William Kendal and Alison Downes of Stop Sizewell C. The meeting was well attended by members and a number of interesting points were raised both by the speakers and by members in the subsequent question and answer session. A full recording of the meeting can be seen here.
Zoom meeting on 14th May on Sizewell C’s threats to our estuary
The Association is holding a Zoom meeting at 5pm on Thursday 14th May to discuss Sizewell C’s threats to the estuary. For full details, see here. To join the meeting, please email info@aldeandore.org mentioning ‘Sizewell C talk’ and please, if you have one, give your Zoom user name (it appears in the bottom left hand of your screen shot once in a Zoom meeting). There will be places for the first 100 who apply. Do come and join us.
The Association’s Request for delay of Sizewell C DCO planning application
The Association has written to EDF, The Rt Hon Therese Coffey MP, Suffolk County Council Leader Matthew Hicks, SC Councillor Russ Rainger, District Councillors T-J Howarth-Culf, Jocelyn Bond, Ray Herring to urge that submission of EDF’s Development Consent Order for Sizewell C is delayed until after the Covid 19 lockdown measures are lifted. The full text of the letter is available here.
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.
Shoreline Management Plan – Poster and Advice
Please participate in a consultation on the revision the Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) which is running from 1 October to 30 November and there are open drop-in sessions on 18 October from 1500-1900 and 19 October from 1000-1300 in the Aldeburgh Community Centre. We have a chance to comment on the proposed revision to the Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) policy for the area to the south of the Aldeburgh Martello Tower. (SMP unit ORF15.1 Sudbourne Beach). Many members will be aware just how vulnerable the section of coast south of the Martello Tower has become and how close the sea has been to breaching the shingle bank through to the river. The SMP is the government policy guiding coastal defence around the entire English and Welsh coast. The section south of the Martello Tower down Orford Ness has been formally reviewed, following the completion of the Alde and Ore Estuary Plan to implement refurbishment of the river walls to be able to withstand overtopping in a 1:200 year surge. The proposal is to change the SMP policy for this part of the coast, which is currently No Active Intervention from the year 2025 (i.e. spend no money, do nothing to counter erosion) to Managed Realignment. This recommendation from the Suffolk Coast Forum is designed to avoid a permanent breach from forming by providing resilience against erosion. A permanent breach would change the river very dramatically, increasing the vulnerability of the estuary area to flooding with consequences for houses, land, water aquifers, walking, the environmental habitats and sailing and other water activities: so it would transform the river as we know it. A policy of Managed Realignment would allow action to be taken to sustain the shingle shore bank. Alde and Ore Association members are therefore encouraged to support the proposed amendment, in writing if looking in at the drop-in sessions is not possible, during the consultation period which ends on 30 November. It may also be helpful to add supportive comments giving one or two reasons for your support such as: A revised policy is crucial to the life of the estuary It is vital to support the Alde Ore Estuary Partnership plan You value the safe sailing environment provided by the river You love the tranquil estuary as it is now Important to the economy of the area If you cannot attend the drop- in consultation please visit https://www.coasteast.org.uk/our-work/current-consultations/ where you will find more information and a feedback form. There is an information booklet at https://www.coasteast.org.uk/media/1422/slaughden-booklet-2019.pdf Alternatively you can email coastalmanagement@eastsuffolk.gov.uk with your reply. Alison Andrews, Chairman of the Alde and Ore Association
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