The Minister of State for the Environment, Phil Woolas, braved heavy showers to visit the village of Scratby in East Norfolk yesterday where coastal erosion is threatening 22 family homes within the next 2/3 years, and 150 in total in the longer term.
The visit was arranged by Member of Parliament Tony Wright, and the Minister met representatives from Erosion Groups from Scratby and nearby villages of Winterton and Hemsby. Members of the Great Yarmouth Borough Council and the Environment Agency were also in attendance.
The Minister was shown the problem by MP Tony Wright and Borough Councillors Jim Shrimplin and Charles Reynolds, and he expressed considerable interest, and asked numerous questions of those present to get a further insight into the problem.
Robert Stephenson of the Scratby Coastal Erosion Group, said that it was a great opportunity to discuss the situation at the ‘ highest level’, and that he is hopeful that on going talks between all parties will make further progress to secure the future of the community.
In the meantime the Scratby Coastal Erosion Group is in discussion with Great Yarmouth Borough Council regarding the project preparation for the rock berm extension from California to Newport.
Once this work has been carried out it will enable MP Tony Wright to press ahead to seek financial approval.
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