THE ALDE AND ORE ESTUARY PARTNERSHIP
COMMUNITY MEETING
23RD MAY 2013 - REPORT ON THE YEARS PROGRESS
Sir Edward Greenwell, Chairman of the Estuary Partnership, opened the meeting and welcomed Hutton Swinglehurst who had come to discuss the issues with insurance in the flood plain.
Sir Edward firstly explainedthat the creation of the partnership last year was carefully constructed to include all relevant local interests bearing in mind the difficulties and issues that were raised during the Blyth Estuary plan and the Alde and Ore Futures project. This partnership model is now seen as a model for local people to take control of Flood Defences that are vital to local wellbeing.
Although ‘no sod turned’ as yet by AOEP efforts, considerable progress has been made. A strategic approach was agreed setting a target standard of defence of 1:200 for the whole estuary in 2050. A resilience approach was agreed, i.e. to ensure defences would survive a defined flood, and although they may overtop they would not breach. This approach is much less costly than building the walls to a height above a defined worst case scenario or covering the very high cost of repairing a breach, which in some cases may be prohibitive. With the resilience method, limited amounts of sea water would spill into low lying areas which could be pumped out with few, if any, properties flooding.
Andrew Hawes had been appointed as engineering consultant and he has already prepared a preliminary broad brush report, estimating upgrading costs of all the walls to target standard of some £7-10Million pounds. He has now prepared a detailed report for Flood Cell 10 (Aldeburgh Marsh Wall) which is very close to his original estimate of £414,000. He will now continue this work for the remaining nine flood cells.
Funding
The Partnership are in discussions with the Environment Agency (EA) to determine exactly the amount of Grant in Aid funding that will be available: although some flood cells may(nothing is guaranteed) attract 100% funding, most rural areas with few houses will need local funding. The benefits and costs are assessed under rigid Defra rules with a 30 year horizon. An important option for the AOEP to consider is taking on responsibility for the annual maintenance which will make a huge difference to the amount of local funding required for the capital schemes. If the EA retain responsibility for annual maintenance, local funding required for Flood Cell 4 (Orford and Gedgrave) came to approximately £2million but this falls to £720,000 if annual maintenance is managed locally.
It is the partnership’s intention to treat the estuary as one unit, not as individual flood cells, as any funding raised within the estuary will be usable throughout the estuary for the benefit of all. To make that fair, there will be a realistic assurance that all flood cells will be brought up to target standard of defence within a defined period – probably 10 years.
A study into all possible sources of local funding was commissioned but no magic new pots of money were found. It is likely that enabling development will be the best option to raise significant funds for the capital upgrading schemes, as was successfully demonstrated at East Lane, Bawdsey. SCDC are now developing detailed and rigorous guidance for enabling development which will be agreed shortly. Local district councillors are supportive and are discussing the principles with their parish councils at present. Landowners have, some 3 years ago, offered some possible sites and these will be assessed against the finalised criteria and will then be discussed with the parish councils.
Estuary Trust
A Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) is being set up and the Objectives and Constitution are being agreed by the partnership. Any gifts of land for enabling development or funding will be handled by the charity. The partnership is delighted that Guy Heald, Sir Christopher Howes, Richard Marson, Richard Pipe and Frances Barnwell have volunteered to be the founding Trustees. The charity will work very much hand in glove with the partnership, who will be responsible for appointing the trustees.
Saltmarsh Restoration
A significant start will shortly be made with three areas of saltmarsh restoration. Saltmarsh is relatively rare and it contributes to the flood defences by dissipating the wave action at the toe of the wall. Funding has already been received from the County Council, Cllr Richard Smith’s Locality Budget and The Jackson Trust. The schemes are experimental and a combination of stakes, bundles of faggots and tensar mesh will be used in a variety of sites.
Communications Group
Lastly, Sir Edward explained that the partnership had set up a Communications Group to agree how best to communicate to all the constituencies in the estuary who enjoy this area, how the defences impact our lives - from sailors to farmers, tourists, walkers, birdwatchers, businesses and hoteliers. We need to explain to everyone how the estuary in its present form contributes to the local community, to the local economy and business and to our private lives. Everyone must feel part of this enterprise as without convincing local commitment we may fail to meet our aims.
Guest Speaker: Hutton Swinglehurst of Marsh UK
We were delighted that Hutton Swinglehurst came to discuss the issues the insurance industry is facing with the expiry of the Statement of Principles at the end of June. He was responsible for Project Noah a model for re-insurance that would offer reasonably priced insurance for those in the flood plain when the Governments agreement with the insurance industry terminates. Although the ABI has offered an alternative solution to Project Noah, the Government appears to be still negotiating the terms. It is understood that the expiry date has been extended for one month and should no agreement be forthcoming the extension will be on a 3 monthly basis.
It is hoped that with the river defences upgraded this will provide those in the flood plain with a far better insurance package than they might otherwise expect. The AOEP will be discussing how best to attract funding from all beneficiaries, not just those in the flood plain. We must accept we will all, in some way, benefit from increased protection and be committed to ensuring we can keep our community, land and economy protected.
Amanda Bettinson
Partnership Secretary