Who Stole Our Beach?
Notes of meeting Tuesday 26 March 2013, Hopton Village Hall, 7pm.
Presentation by Bourne Leisure (BL).
Present:
Dr. Phil Barber, Independent Expert, Alastair Tindle, Civil Engineer, Ian Pennell, Director of BL Operations and Director responsible for Hopton Holiday Village, Anton Bednarek, Jonathan Stratford, General Manager at Hopton Holiday Village and Tom Cassidy, MC for the evening.
Approximately 200 members of the public, including representatives from Hopton Coastal Action Group (HCAG), Hopton-on-Sea Parish Council (HPC), Trevor Wainwright, Leader GYBC, reporters from local papers and BBC news.
Cllr. Lennie Gent, Chairman of HPC thanked everyone for attending the meeting on this very important subject for residents, local businesses and holidaymakers to the area.
Tom Cassidy welcomed everyone to the presentation by BL Group who have invested considerable time and money in reaching this point. He thanked Brian Hardisty and Julie McNair for their organisation.
There followed a ten minute video presentation providing explanations and modelling showing how the Outer Harbour (OH) construction has affected coastal erosion at Hopton. In summary, the OH has obstructed the normal tidal flow, and the reverse effect for the ebb tide. The OH has created a blockage south of the harbour where less sediment is carried. The sand moving south from Gorleston to Hopton is now reduced and the shoreline is trying to relocate the blockage created by the OH, resulting in coastal erosion. Beach restoration is urgently needed.
Following the video, Tom Cassidy introduced the top table: Dr. Phil Barber, Leading Independent Expert on hydrodynamics, sediment transport, geotechnics and shoreline management planning, Alastair Tindle, Civil Engineer, Ian Pennell, Director of BL Operations and Director responsible for Hopton, Anton Bednarek,and Jonathan Stratford,General Manager at Hopton.
Ian Pennell advised 30,000 guests holiday at the Hopton Park each year. BL have owned the Park since the early 1970s when there were miles of unspoilt golden beaches. He continued that unfortunately that idyllic vision is now seriously under threat and noticeably worsening. BL carried out far reaching investigations to find out why the beach was disappearing. In excess of £.5M has been spent by them trying to ascertain what has happened to the beach and why. BL are absolutely confident in the scientific research they have undertaken and a substantial 500 page report has been compiled by Dr. Phil Barber and his team. They emphatically pinpoint the cause and can say with confidence that the culprit is the Outer Harbour (OH) extension to the port of Great Yarmouth. Since the OH was completed in 2008 dramatic changes in literal flow and drift have taken place. Three metres has been lost at Hopton over that period of time which is equivalent to 20K to 40K cubic metres of sand, or 6,000 to 8,000 lorry loads of sand each year. If erosion is allowed to continue the very existence of the holiday park will be threatened and this will have a disastrous knock on effect. The park has over 200 employees and brings £10M into the local economy. It is in the vest interest of everyone to cooperate and work together to restore one of the most famous and beautiful beaches in Norfolk.
The Directors of BL have pledged to fight to save the beach but it will cost millions to rectify. Just this week following dramatic changes in the weather, the existing sea defences at Hopton have failed. BL carried out works to repair the access slope to the beach a few weeks ago, but due to adverse weather and further erosion, the access has been destroyed in the last couple of days, and had to be closed again.
BL wants to know why the legally binding Monitoring Agreement to the OH development has not been implemented. Letters requiring implement have been sent to the six signatories to the Agreement. The OH Revision Order of 2005 lays down requirements for dealing with effects created by the OH within ten years of completion. BL want to know why an independent assessor has not been appointed and why annual reports have not been made public. In the meantime, BL seek the support of all authorities to save Hopton’s beach.
A question and answer session followed:-
Q: Barry Woods, resident. Are there any GYBC members present?
A: Trevor Wainwright, Leader of GYBC is present.
Q: Trevor Meredith. The cliff top is eroding by the minute. The bank needs securing before anything else happens.
A: Alastair Tindle. The cliff face has been protected for the past 30 years by the sea defences and revetments. These defences have now failed and BL agrees that action is needed now.
Q: Gerry Stone, resident. What is the solution and timescale?
A: Dr. Phil Barber. The plan is to move as fast as possible. Making strong representation to the Monitoring Group under the Harbour Revision Order (HRO) 2005 which allowed the harbour to proceed. The Order contained protection clauses that in the event of damage caused, they would require the OH to put it right, or for GYBC to carry out the works and charge it to the OH. The OH is the cause of the erosion at Hopton and conditions from the Monitoring Agreement (MA) should be put into force. The Port Advisers have said the OH has not caused problems. Now BL has evidence to the contrary.
Q: Stephen Ford, Hopton Parish Council. Why did HR Wallingford only take into consideration wave motion and not the more significant effect on tidal flow when they carried out their survey? Their survey showed the complete opposite of what has happened i.e. that erosion would be from the north side and not south of the OH.
A: Dr. Phil Barber. What you have said is correct. The conclusion reached by the report in 1998 is that the OH would dominate changes of waves and sand levels would erode at Gorleston. The report was totally incorrect. The OH has had a major effect on tidal flow which is responsible mainly for removal of sand along the shoreline.
Q: Is there an accumulation of sediment north of the OH?
A: Dr. Phil Barber. Waves from the north east break against the beaches at an angle, pushing sand southwards. But with the OH, the waves turn as they come over the banks, and approach the shoreline more head on, not moving sand along the shore, in comparison to tidal flows which are very strong off Yarmouth and carry sediment around the harbour. Modelling work shows this quite clearly. What is does is move sediment off-shore, sand is no longer fed along the shoreline as before. There is significant movement of the tide following construction of the OH 600metres off shore. The OH causes a blockage of the natural flow.
Q: David Stephenson, resident. Would a solution at Hopton cause problems further down the coast? Did the Monitoring Group carry out an assessment to prevent this, and re-establish the coastline?
A: Dr. Phil Barber. The Monitoring Group has not looked at any solution as they say the OH has not caused the problem. BL has looked at possible solutions. Sand being taken from Gorleston could be moved back to Hopton. This would need to happen on a regular basis as the OH is permanent and every tide is being affected. But, this would not be cost effective. Another option would be to consider the use of artificial headlands i.e. more substantial than groynes. They would also divert flows off shore, but not as much as the OH. This option would not require action every year and is a better solution to the problem. The artificial headlands would hold the sand in place.
Q: Karen Mingay, resident. Wind farms, as well as the OH, may be causing erosion at Hopton. If the OH had been built in 1960s by oil companies would the problem have been the same then?
A: Dr. Phil Barber. The situation with the beach was something we had to examine both before and after the harbour was built. Surveys and records to 1991 have been available courtesy of the Environment Agency and those by the MA signatories before the harbour was introduced. Those surveys showed, from 1991 onwards, that the north end of Hopton beach was effectively stable overall. The south end was undergoing modest erosion, at an average rate of 100mm (4 inches) per annum lost. Those rates increased dramatically from 2008, and 750mm is being lost per year. There is a marked change since the end of 2008. The coincidence with the OH in September 2008 is stark.
Q: Lennie Gent, Chairman, Hopton Parish Council. How can Hopton Parish Council, and residents, give their support and help?
A: Ian Pennell. You have already started by turning up this evening. The Park at Hopton has been operating since the 1970s and we feel part of this community. There is a booklet to take away this evening, with support via website, twitter and facebook. Sign up on social media to give your support.
Anton Bednarek said that more pressure needs to be brought on the relevant authorities. The Port Authority has not co-operated and it’s been difficult to get answers from them. They have not done anything so far to investigate what is happening to Hopton beach.
Alastair Tindle asked that anyone with photos of Hopton beach showing trends and what has happened in the past would be helpful. Contact details are on the website.
Q: Tony Wright (ex MP). The problem clearly needs to be dealt with. All signatories to the Agreement need to get round the table and discuss options and what can be done.
Anton Bednarek. BL has invested a tremendous amount of money and time looking for settlement. They would like to talk to all signatories to the Agreement to reach a quick solution.
Q: Mr Mills. Who are the other signatories to the Agreement?
A: Ian Pennell. (I) Great Yarmouth Borough Council (ii) Waveney District Council (iii) Natural England (iv) Environment Agency (v) Associated British Ports of Lowestoft (originally GY Port Authority) (vi) East Port.
Q: Tim Welsh. GYBC should have sorted this out. They don’t want to admit they have been wrong.
A: Alastair Tindle. It has been difficult to obtain information, particularly from East Port who have not complied with requests. Since a recent change in administration at GYBC, communication has been better. GYBC have attended a number of meetings in the past nine months when co-operation improved.
Trevor Wainwright, Leader, GYBC advised that the Borough Council now has new administration after the last 12 years and they are working with Alastair Tindle and Hopton Coastal Action Group. They are determined to get all signatories to the MA around a table in the near future. GYBC will work closely with parties to get this resolved.
Q: Janet King, resident. The Shoreline Management Plan said that until the revetments failed, they would “hold the line”. As they have now failed what is the position for the future?
A: Alastair Tindle. “Hold the Line” is a policy that was designed for Hopton. GYBC is aware of their responsibility and is making strides to look at what needs to be done.
A: Trevor Wainwright, Leader, GYBC. £100K was pledged last week and GYBC has asked that this be increased. 5000 tonnes of rock has been ordered to protect the cliff base.
Anton Bednarek. Defences have failed over the last few days. This information will be taken the Board of BL and see what they are prepared to do to take this forward, working with GYBC.
Q: If no solution can be found, would BL ever pull out of Hopton?
A: BL would not pull out, having been here for three decades they are very much part of Hopton and intend to fight this all the way.
Q: If no action is taken, will Hopton disappear into the sea?
A: Dr. Phil Barber explained that the full extent of the changes introduced by the OH construction have not yet been fully determined because storms have certain periods i.e. the 10 year storm, those have yet to occur so changes will continue. But at some stage in the future, with nothing else cutting across, the shoreline would simply relocate. This all depends on when the severe storms are going to occur.
Q: Malcolm Kirby. Would BL recommend an injection of sand to rapidly rebuild the beach, while longer term solutions are discussed?
A: Dr. Phil Barber. The shoreline is subject to a lot of energy. Sand would need to be moved forever as vast quantities are lost on a regular basis. It would not be achievable, nor cost effective. Creating artificial headlands, which would hold sand in place, is the preferred option.
Q: Has anyone looked at the construction of Southwold defences? Materials from the new estate at Hopton were used which was cost effective.
A: Dr. Phil Barber. The study shows the rate of transfer of sand from Hopton towards Gorleston is between 20K and 40K cubic metres per year. This is a massive quantity. If authorities tried to put sand back on Hopton beach to the level it was before the OH was built, forces would just take it away again.
Q: Lennie Gent, Chairman, Hopton Parish Council. If all signatories to the MA cannot agree a way forward, would BL consider moving to litigation to bring this to a head?
A: Anton Bednarek. It is BL’s intention to try and get all parties talking, without the need for litigation.
Q: Howard Shepherdson, resident. Is the other holiday centre in Hopton helping you at all?
A: Anton Bednarek. Hopefully, the other holiday centre will come into the discussions in the future.
Tom Cassidy thanked everyone for attending and closed the meeting at 8pm.
Booklets were handed out providing a summary of the event and contact details.
Facebook: SaveHoptonBeach
Twitter@savehoptonbeach
A limited number of booklets are available from the Village Hall.
Notes taken by Julie McNair, Hopton Resident.
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