Which options were considered?
This website is the only place you can view the 10 Options that were considered by GYBC. Although this project has been on the go for some time the only information made available by the Great Yarmouth Borough Council was displayed in the foyer of Gorleston Library for a few days in September 2004. John Hemsworth promised on several occasions that this display would be moved to the reception area of the Great Yarmouth Town Hall - this promise was not kept.
Thu 28th Jan 2021
When reading these options please bear in mind that they refer to the Beach in 2004 and not the present time. The options below have not been changed in any way. They are exactly as presented by Halcrow Consultants to GYBC.
Alhough the Great Yarmouth Borough Council has decided to shelve its plans to install "Reefs" off the beach at Gorleston it is still worth reading about the options they considered. There are a number of glaring inaccuracies in their assertions, interspersed with downright scare-mongering.
You might have thought that an issue of such long term consequence would have been explained on the Council's web-site - but no. A poor turn out at the September 2004 Gorleston Reef meeting held in Gorleston library would have meant that the Council could have sent this proposal to DEFRA with little opposition.
They have definitely been caught out by the strength of local opinion. This website has been created so that local residents can voice their opinions and views on the Gorleston Reefs.
Warning to the residents of Gorleston.
The meeting on Friday 4th March 2005 at the St Andrews Church Hall Gorleston was not as well attended as the previous meeting on this subject in September 2004. However the Local Press and Local Radio were in attendance. The Council now plan to carry out some repairs to the Sea Wall and with the help of the Environmental Agency, monitor sand levels on the beach over the next five years.
The next meeting, which is to be arranged, will require a strong turnout to ensure the Council's keeps it's promises.
Monday 20th May 2013
History has shown that the Council and its so called 'experts' were wrong on all counts regarding the Gorleston Sea Wall and the amount of sand there would now be on the Gorleston Beach by this date. Their 'concern' was driven solely by the £10m grant that the Government was going to give to pay for this work. A concern that soon evaporated when the money and the share to local businesses was no longer forthcoming. A wonderful amenity would have been lost had the Council had their way. Sea Palling beach bears testament to this assertion.
Why No Competitive Tendering?
We at gorleston Beach have been pressing Tony Wright M.P. and Nick Raynsford M.P. to find out why Halcrow were not subject to the Competitive Tendering process before being appointed, particularly in view of Halcrow's dismal performance.
We found out ourselves that Local Authorities are not obliged to ask consultants such as Halcrow to tender before they are appointed. However they cannot directly benefit from any construction work that is required as a result of their conclusions. Any such work would be subject to competitive tendering.