Tony Wright M.P. and DEFRA

E-mail question to Tony Wright M.P.: (Sun 7th Nov 2004)

Mr Wright, You are no doubt aware of the Great Yarmouth Borough Council's plan to protect the Gorleston Sea Wall. The plan has been the cause of much disquiet amongst residents.

How do you stand on this issue?. Bearing in mind that Halcrow the Marine Consultants who were appointed to formulate a plan for sea defenses at Gorleston were not required to go through the competitive tendering process. When Councillor Bert Collins was questioned about this at a recent meeting of some 200 residents in Gorleston answered, "They (Halcrow) were the preferred partner".

1. Are the council allowed to do this?
2. Does this mean that competitive tendering no longer applies?

I look forward to receiving your comments and views.
Gorleston Beach

Email answer from Tony Wright M.P.: (Wed 10th Nov 2004)

I have a great deal of reservation about a number of issues that affect our coastline and the scientific evidence being used to support the 'answers' to the problems we face on the coast.

You may be aware that I have constantly argued against the scientists views that dredging of aggregates does not do damage to our coastline and that some of the protection schemes put in place in recent years have a knock on effect further down the coast and on that basis I do have concerns over the reef scheme for Gorleston, but when I have spoken to ministers regarding the advice they are given they invariably accept the views of the people who are supposed to be the 'experts'. I will raise the issue again at ministerial level to see what the view is now and I will check on the question of going out to tender.

Yours sincerely

Tony Wright

Tony Wright's reply from Elliot Morley

Dear Sir

I had written on your behalf to Elliot Morley, Minister for Environment and Agri-Environment, concerning the Gorleston Sea Wall and dredging and I have now received a response, which I enclose for your information.

Yours sincerely

Tony Wright M.P.

DEFRA
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR
Sat 16th Apr 2005

Dear Tony,

Thank you for your letter of 23rd November 2004 from one of your constituents regarding the protection of the Gorleston Sea Wall from dredging. I apologise for the very late reply but we have no record of receiving your letter last year.

Concerns have been expressed that marine aggregate dredging speeds up coastal erosion and there should be a much tougher Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before further dredging is permitted off the East Coast. A range of controls has been imposed on dredging activities. Under the non-statutory "Government View" procedure, operated by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, an EAI is required for every application. The assessments are published in two local papers and copies are placed in local authority offices for all to view. To assess the physical effects of dredging and the implications for coastal erosion a Coastal Impact Study is also carried out to provide information on, in particular, whether the proposed dredging is far enough offshore for there to be no beach drawdown into the deepened area. If this study shows that there are any concerns about coastal erosion, the application is refused. A favourable Government View is only issued after wide consultation, and if major stakeholders are content that the proposed dredging is evironmentally acceptable or that it can be made so with appropriate conditions.

I understand that Hanson Aggregates Marine Ltd (HAML) has applied to the ODPM for a Government View to continue dredging marine sand and gravel from area 401/2, which is approximately 22km east of Great Yarmouth. The existing Government View was issued on 19th December 1995 and limited the maximum amount to be extracted to 20 million tonnes over a 10 year period. It is due to expire on 31st March 2006. The new application proposes to continue to extract a maximum of 2 million tonnes per annum over a 15 year period. The application began its 10 week 'consultation stage' on 11 February 2005 and a wide range of over 30 interests have been consulted about the application, including DEFRA, local fishing interests and a number of local authorities in East Anglia including North Norfolk District Council. Public Notices were also placed in the Fishing News, Great Yarmouth Mercury, Lowestoft Journal and the Eastern Daily Press; and copies of the related Environmental Statement and associated Coastal Impact Study are available for public inspection throughout the consultation period until 22 April 2005.

DEFRA accepts that there may be a potential impact on the coastline in relation to estuary and near-shore dredging for navigation, where there is a clear need to balance economic and social imperatives of continued port operations with any environmental impact. Modelling and field studies on the impact of both individual offshore dredging licenses and of the cumulative impacts of such licenses have concluded that UK offshore dredging, e.g. off the Norfolk coast, has not contributed to coastal erosion. It should be noted that there was some confusion because early draft reports from a European study of Coastal Erosion (EROSION) wrongly suggested a link between aggragate dredging and coastal erosion for the East Anglian Coast and this suggestion was removed from the final report because it was recognised that there were adequate controls in place to avoid such impacts.

DEFRA is aware of Great Yarmouth's proposed coast protection scheme at Gorleston but we have not yet received and application from the Council. I hope you understand that I an therefore unable to comment about any of the Council's options for work.

Regards

Elliot Morley