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ESTUARINE STRATEGY

KEY QUESTIONS WHICH THE ASSOCIATION HAVE PUT TO THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

1. In answers to FAQ on your SES web site you say that it no longer makes economic sense to maintain the 115km of river/sea defences in Suffolk. Does this mean by extension that you have ruled out maintaining all existing river defences on the Alde and Ore?

2. When considering all options will this in accordance with best practice developed by experts in strategic planning cover all options or only those considered ”economically feasible”, ie those that can be considered with the context of available funding over a period years as determined by DEFRA?

3. In certain areas there have been efforts on the Alde and Ore during the last 10 years to maintain or improve river defences, eg the RSPB’s efforts to protect the river walls around Havergate Island and the National Trust’s work the river walls adjoining the King’s Marshes (but not the Lantern Marshes). However, many of our members, including those who make their living from the river, say that they do not believe there has been a regular maintenance of river walls over the last 10 years or more. Does the EA have detailed records of work carried out in maintaining river defences on the Alde and Ore over, say, the last five years and the annual cost?

4. What would be the annual cost of maintaining all existing river defences over the next 10 years? Is it realistic to expect this to be met by DEFRA and public authorities? Would it make a difference if there was a financial contribution from river users and others who place a high priority in broadly maintaining the existing configuration of the rivers?

5. Have the Environment Agency looked at the advantage of constructing sluices, eg at the Lantern Marshes, to limit the speed of water inflow and outflow as an aid to increasing the rate of growth of salt marsh?

6. The final paragraph on page 7 of the introductory pamphlet stresses that a variety of factors will be taken into account in developing the EA Flood Management Strategy for the Alde and Ore. But the document also lays considerable stress on environmental considerations and in describing the various sites designated under EU and other legislation. The Association has for many years stressed the wider socio-economic implications if the sea walls were breached south of Aldeburgh and/or many parts of the river became mud flats similar to those in the upper parts of the Blyth Estuary and at Snape (adjacent to the collapsed river wall in FC11) Will the EA Steering Group be holding separate detailed discussions with the authors of the Friends of the Rivers Economic Impact Study?

5. Have you spoken to all major riparian land owners whose land is at serious risk of flooding and residents of areas like Shingle Street who worry about the long term future of their community? Is there anything the Association can do to help promote discussion among with these key interest groups? Will you be holding detailed discussions with the Drainage Boards?

6. Environment Agency representatives have stressed over a period of years that they have “permissive” powers to undertake flood defences. What is the legal position? Can the Environment Agency require land owners such as the National Trust or the owner of the land adjoining Iken Cliffs to take steps to maintain river defences and prevent the erosion of the Cliffs at Iken? Who is financially liable? Can landowners refuse to agree to the erection of new defences? (In some cases we recognises planning permission may be necessary.)

7. The earlier Posford Duvivier report and the CHAMPS (Coastal Habitats Management Plan for Suffolk,,) emphasise the risks of considerable increase in tidal flows and difficulties of navigating the river. What new estimates do you have, based in data collected this year, of changes in tidal flows and heights and how do these compare with those from earlier surveys?

8. Your overall predictions of the effects of climate change and coastal squeeze are for an average annual increase of 6 mm as set out in para 2.1.3 of the Posford Duvivier report. Do you have a graph showing estimated changes over the past, say, 50 years and graphs showing predicted changes on alternative assumptions over, say, the next 10 years on best, central and worst assumptions?

9. What is your best guess-estimate of the present volume of water moving into and out of the estuary on a spring tide given the earlier Posford-Duvivier estimate of 9.6 million cubic meters on a spring tide? What effect would this have on tidal flows at Orford Haven, Orford Quay and Slaughden?

10. How much has been spent over the past 5 years on consultancy fees for (a) the Rivers Alde and Ore and (b) sea defences from Aldeburgh south to North Weir Point. How does this compare with the average annual cost over the last 5 years for maintaining sea and river defences? What sum have you allowed for consultation with interested parties in developing the new strategy launched this year and how is this cost divided between the costs of employing consultants such as Black and Veatch and other costs incurred by the Environment Agency?

11. We were grateful to the Environment Agency and English Nature for providing the Association with copies of the earlier draft Posford Duvivier report and the CHAMPS report before publication. Will the Agency ensure that the Planning Partnership for the Alde and Ore Estuary, which includes the Alde and Ore Association, sees copies of all relevant draft reports and has reasonable time to comment before publication?

12. In accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Guidance on consultation and the Open Government Code will the Agency ensure that all documentation submitted by your consultants Black and Veatch and data collected by the Environment Agency is put into the public domain including your consultants’ computer models?