Scratby’s coastal protection scheme to start soon

Residents/owners of Newport Cottages in Newport feel abandoned after the tidal surge in December as they say nothing is being done to protect their homes, which have been left vulnerable. Picture: James Bass Archant Norfolk © 2014

A long-awaited coast protection scheme is close to putting the blocks on erosion at Scratby.

Share Email this article to a friend To send a link to this page you must be logged in.

Around 1300 gabions (rock-filled cages) are set to be laid along a 877m stretch extending the existing rock berm to the Newport cottages following a ten year campaign.

The borough council’s coastal engineer Bernard Harris said although the scheme was a second-best solution to problems along the stretch it would protect the sandy cliffs and 135 homes for another 20 years.

The work will take an estimated five to six months and see the scheme join with Hemsby’s experimental wall of honeycomb.

Subject to finding a contractor it is due to start at the end of September.

While conditions were always changing Scratby was currently bearing the brunt of gnawing waves, and experiencing a “significant reduction” in beach every five to seven years, which the new scheme will defend, Mr Harris said.

The current 1.4km rock berm is 19 years into a 50 year life span and still working well.

But the future looked bleak when it emerged two years ago that a desperately wanted extension would cost £3.9m.

“We could not get anywhere near that, so we looked at a cheaper alternative,” Mr Harris said. “While it is not quite as good as the rock berm the gabions will do the job.”

The £500,000 scheme is currently out to tender.

Speaking at Ormesby with Scratby Parish Council meeting Robert Stephenson chairman of Scatby and California Environment Group (SCEG) which has campaigned hard for the defences reported that there had been “a great deal of progress” with the scheme.

“What has happened is that they have appointed a consultant and given us a timetable that work should commence at the end of September. We are looking positively at making sure things happen.”

Campaigners have said that without defences properties could be lost to the North Sea within the next five years.

Under the scheme rock filled metal cages will be buried at the base of the sand cliffs.

It has been paid for by the Environment Agency, the Regional Flood and Coast Committee, donations from SCEG, and Great Yarmouth Borough Council.

Mr Stephenson said the scheme was not scheduled until 2018 but had been brought forward thanks to the intervention of environment secretary Elizabeth Truss and Great Yarmouth MP Brandon Lewis.

He said: “When we started ten years ago we wanted to change the Shoreline Management Plan because it was proposing nothing was done. We campaigned for the right to put defences in.

“We got permission for a rock berm but at a cost of £3.9m and there was no public money or funding available. Therefore Bernard Harris worked a different scheme out which is the gabion scheme. Given that the gabion scheme was cheaper and there was more of a chance of finding the money we went along with it and accepted that what was on offer was a bonus in the financial climate.”

Clifftop homes have been asked if they are happy with proposed access points.

To comment contact parish council clerk Sue Eagle on 01493 733037.