The text of the press statement announcing the launch of the Partnership together with the background notes which accompanied it is reproduced below. (The Press Statement was originally issued under the title Alde and Ore Estuary Planning Partnership but it was felt this might be confused with the Alde & Ore Association. Subsequently this was changed to the Estuary Planning Partnership for the Alde and Ore Rivers which we subsequently felt could usefully be shortened to the Planning Partnership for the Alde and Ore Estuary.)

ESTUARY PLANNING PARTNERSHIP

FOR THE ALDE AND ORE RIVERS

Secretary Jacquie Smith

Lavender Villa, Mill Lane, Campsea Ashe, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP13 0PG

PEOPLE POWER: THE FUTURE OF THE ALDE & ORE ESTUARY

The Alde & Ore Estuary Planning Partnership has been launched this month following a strong impetus from local people and organisations concerned about the future of the estuary. Extensive consultations have taken place after an overflowing public meeting last year. This important new initiative has been strongly supported by national organisations such as the Environment Agency, English Nature and The National Trust together with Suffolk Coastal District Council.

The main aims of this new group are to:

bring together organisations and individuals concerned with the social and economic future of the estuary and its conservation.

guide the formation of a Management Strategy for the Estuary.

The Steering Group consists of key stakeholders which include:

Suffolk Coasts and Heaths Unit

the Environment Agency, The National Trust and English Nature

bodies representing community interests such as the Aldeburgh Town Council, New Orford Town Trust and the Alde and Ore Association

Sailing, business and farming interests

Many other groups such as wildfowlers, fishermen, the RSPB, Suffolk Preservation Society etc. and individual residents have agreed to join The Alde & Ore Estuary Planning Partnership. If YOU wish to join please contact the Secretary Jacquie Smith, Tel.01728 746420, email jacqueline.smith11@btopenworld.com.

Simon Hooton, Manager of the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Unit, has agreed to act as the first Chairman of the Partnership and Michael Flint, who has long campaigned for better representation of community interests in the development of plans for the Alde & Ore Estuary, has agreed to act as Vice-Chairman.

Neil Lister, Projects Development Officer at Suffolk Coast and Heaths Unit, who has played a key part in setting up the Partnership, says "There has been a lot of interest in the proposal following the Environment Agency’s announcement of its intention to draw up an Estuarine Strategy for the Alde and Ore. We are delighted that the Environment Agency have agreed that the Partnership should become the key forum for consultation and discussion of the strategic issues identified by the Partnership and the Environment Agency”.

Mike Steen, the Environment Agency’s representative says “We welcome the formation of the Estuary Planning Partnership and look forward to working with them in developing the Alde and Ore Estuary Strategy”.

David Andren, the Alde & Ore Association’s expert on Estuarine Strategy, who has also been closely involved with setting up this body, believes “It will play a key role in improving communication and understanding between all those who live near, work on or enjoy the Alde & Ore Estuaries and the responsible statutory bodies as well as promoting best practice in cooperative planning and management”.

For further information contact:

Neil Lister, Suffolk Coast and Heath Unit Tel 01394 384948 or neil@suffolkcoastandheaths.org

Mike Steen, Environment Agency Tel 01473 727 712 or mike.steen@environment-agency.gov.uk

David Andren, Alde & Ore Association, Tel 01394 450374 or andrendb@aol.com.

Jacquie Smith, Secretary EPP, Tel 01728 746420 or jacqueline.smith11@btopenworld.com

BACKGROUND NOTES

Over the last 18 months there have been many discussions between statutory bodies, businesses and residents on the future of the Alde and Ore Estuary and the surrounding land area.

In April 2002 the Suffolk Coast & Heaths Unit organised an initial meeting of a Local Organising Group.

As a result a UK/North America Countryside Exchange Team visited the area and presented their report at a huge public meeting on 3 October 2002.

The Study Team’s main recommendations were that an Estuary Planning Partnership should be created as soon as possible, to include all interests, serve as a communications forum and guide the process of creating a strategic plan.

The Local Organising Group agreed draft terms of reference in early 2003, which have been the subject of detailed consultation over the last three months.

These consultations revealed widespread support for establishing the Partnership on the basis proposed as soon as possible.

Accordingly at their meeting on 9 October the Local Organising Group resolved to establish the Alde & Ore Estuary Planning Partnership with the following terms of reference:

Terms of Reference for the Alde and Ore Estuary Planning Partnership

This Partnership is formed in order to:

Bring together organisations and individuals concerned with the social and economic future of the estuary and its conservation.

Guide the formation of a Management Strategy for the Estuary.

In order to achieve the above aims the Partnership’s main priority will be to provide a forum to improve communication and understanding. To this end it has been agreed that the Partnership will provide the main communications link between the Environment Agency and the local community when it comes to developing the Environment Agency’s Flood Management Strategy for the Alde and Ore Estuary.

The Partnership will investigate ways to -

provide a review of existing and future plans that cover the area

endeavour to ensure that all organisations, owners, occupiers and user groups with an interest in the future of the Estuary are informed and consulted

examine existing regulations, voluntary agreements and unregulated use of the Estuary to see how these help its conservation. The Partnership will recommend further measures where necessary

The Partnership will refer to available data and recommendations, for example:

The Alde & Ore N America/UK Countryside Exchange Report

The Friends of the Rivers Economic Impact Study

Membership of the EPP Steering Group will initially comprise:

Aldeburgh Town Council (Felicity Bromage)

Alde & Ore Association (David Andren)

Aldeburgh Yacht Club (Patrick Gifford)

Elisabeth Cooper (Parish Councils)

English Nature (Gareth Dalglish/John Jackson)

Environment Agency (Mike Steen/Nigel Pask)

Michael Flint (Vice Chairman)

Sir Edward Greenwell (representing the farming community)

Simon Hooton (Chairman)

Penny Kay (representing Friends of the Rivers and the business community)

The National Trust (Grant Lohoar)

New Orford Town Trust (Margaret Smith)

Orford Sailing Club (TBA)

Jacquie Smith (Secretary)

Suffolk Coastal District Council (represented by Councillor Maggy Wilson and John Davies, Countryside Manager as members of the Local Organising Group) have made it clear that SCDC strongly support the creation of the Partnership and will advise, help and assist the Steering Group whenever requested, particularly in those areas where SCDC can contribute specialist knowledge or skills.

Membership of the EPP will comprise the Steering Group plus any organisation or individual with an interest in the future of the Estuary that supports the aims and priorities of the EPP. No member shall have precedence or powers over any other.

Initially (but for no more than one year after the first Estuary Forum) the Steering Group has invited Simon Hooton to become Chair of the Partnership and Michael Flint to become Vice-Chair. Before the second Estuary Forum the membership of the Partnership Steering and Wider Group will forward nominees for these roles and a vote of the whole Partnership will take place. The elected Chair and Vice Chair will sit for a period of one year, after which these appointments may be renewed for a further year if agreed by the membership, up to a maximum of three years. After three years another election will be held.

A secretary shall be appointed by the EPP who shall be responsible for preparing agendas, arranging meetings and taking minutes of the EPP.

Key initial actions of the Partnership will include -

Organisation of the initial Alde & Ore Estuary Forum - an opportunity for developments on the Estuary to be presented and discussed.

To produce and distribute a ‘plain English’ guide to the responsibilities of all bodies who manage coastal and river defences. The guide will explain how bodies are financed, what legislation they follow/implement and what they can and cannot do.

To produce and distribute a ‘plain English’ guide to all plans that affect the Estuary. The guide will summerise the main findings/proposals and timetables for review of/consultation on these plans.

Further information

The Partnership already has its own web site at http://www.aldeandore.org which has yet to be developed but includes a copy of the October 2002 report by the UK/North America Countryside Exchange Team and this press release.

Details of the Environment Agency’s programme for the development of their Flood Management Plans for the Suffolk Estuaries can be found at http://www.suffolkestuaries.co.uk.

Local precedents for developing management plans through partnerships include the Stour and Orwell Management Plan and the Management Strategy for the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB. For more details contact Neil Lister or Andy Birchenough, Stour and Orwell Estuaries Project Officer, at andy@stourandorwell.org.

Guidance documents on best management practice at the community level are available from the Countryside Agency, the Local Government Association and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

The Friends of the Rivers Economic Impact Study is likely to be published shortly. For further details contact Penny Kay Tel 01394 40652 or kaysorford@compuserve.com

27 October 2003

Return to top

Use your back button to return the previous page or click here to return to the home page of the Estuary Planning Partnership or her to return to the Alde and Ore Net