Coastal Update
Issue 12
November 2015
Updates and news from around the Coast
Coastal Partnership
Sustaining the delivery of an
effective and efficient coastal
service for the future depends
upon the availability of
financial resources but also on
the recruitment and retention of suitably qualified and experienced staff. The Coastal Management
Teams working within Norfolk and Suffolk share the same pressures caused by coastal change,
funding limitations and limited staff resource.
In February/ March 2015, North Norfolk District Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC),
Suffolk Coastal District Council and Waveney District Council Cabinets resolved to develop a suitable
Coastal Partnership model to address these shared issues and sustain the high levels of service in the
future.
Following the exploration of various partnership models, it has been agreed that the coastal
management of Norfolk and Suffolk is undertaken by a shared services team. This team will work as
an equitable partnership, overseen by a formal governance structure and implemented by April
2016. This will enable resources to be managed more effectively and with a higher degree of
efficiency, resulting in more positive, sustainable outcomes for our communities in the long term.
Defra Pathfinder 2nd evaluation
Defra has undertaken a second evaluation of the Coastal Pathfinder projects with a specific
reference to coastal roll back schemes. It has assessed the successes of the pathfinder projects, the
barriers which limit property and asset rollback and identifies examples of where this has been
successful.
It is anticipated that the report will help shape a future government response and support
the wider national development of an adaptation strategy. The final report is due to be published
prior to Christmas 2015. We have been told that it is being considered by the relevant government
Minister and we hope that it may lead to further government support for coastal adaptation
initiatives.
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NCERM seeks to identify the level of coastal erosion risk
in a co-ordinated, comparable and consistent way
around the coast of England. The first NCERM project
was completed by the Environment Agency in 2012, but
for various reasons the data was not adopted at that time in many locations, including North
Norfolk.
A second phase of NCERM is now beginning with the objective of developing a way of
updating national coastal erosion data on an annual basis. NNDC will be involved as the project
develops and will assess the data as it is produced. The project may be very useful as it will be able
to provide more up to date coastal projections.
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National Coastal Erosion Risk Mapping (NCERM)
Coastal Update
Issue 12
November 2015
Ongoing works
FLAG ramps
Rudram’s Gap ramp extension
 Work has been completed on the extension of
Rudram’s Gap Ramp, Walcott and has begun on the
extension of the Fisherman’s ramp in Sheringham.
The ramp toes have been extended to future proof
the ramps against low beach levels to ensure that
they remain usable.
 Construction of a new ramp at the east end of the
seawall at Mundesley is progressing well and the
final stage of work including the placement of rock
sills is expected to be completed shortly.
Works on all of the ramps have been funded jointly by FLAG and NNDC and should all be completed
by December 2015.
Happisburgh Rock Realignment- Due to cliff recession at
Happisburgh, the rock defence previously placed at
Happisburgh was in danger of being lost to the sea and no
longer working to its full efficiency. In October the rock was
realigned closer to the cliff. The project was funded by NNDC
at a cost of £79,650.00 and it is hoped to ‘buy time’ by slowing
cliff recession at this location. During works further debris was
removed from the beach and specialist equipment was used to
extract metal sheet pile at and below the low water mark to
improve beach safety.
Sheringham West Seawall- Phase two of the Sheringham West
Seawall improvement scheme has commenced. The
foundations of the old seawall were improved in the previous
stage and construction of the new seawall face will ensure that
Happisburgh beach debris removal
it is much more resistant to storm events such as that seen in
December 2013. Phase two is jointly funded by NNDC, EA and RNLI at a cost of £586,301.
The Cromer Coast Protection Scheme – Work restarted in October for the winter season of works.
There may be some access restrictions to the promenade during the works however signs will be in
place to advise on alternative routes.
Finally, any comments or suggested improvements to the NNDC coastal web pages would be
appreciated.
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Shifting Shores
The National Trust has just published the report ‘Shifting Shores’ which calls for urgent action to
manage threats to our coastline. To download a copy of Shifting Shores – Playing our part at the
coast visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/shiftingshores
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Walcott Flood Alleviation Scheme- Norfolk County Council are in the process of finishing
connections of the new flood alleviation pipes at Walcott Gap and have also replaced the highways
letterbox drains with gully drains. The works will improve the capacity of the drainage system to
drain the water from the roadside back towards the sea helping to alleviate any flooding.