Coastal Erosion Options
Posted by Brandon Lewis, MP for Great Yarmouth, at 21:27, Sun 13 February 2011:
This week I chaired the Coastal Erosion All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) with DEFRA Minister Richard Benyon as guest speaker to talk about the Government’s approach to coastal policy.
I was joined by co-chair, Therese Coffey, and North Essex and Harwich MP Bernard Jenkins. The Minister spoke about the funding Government has outlined for flood and coastal erosion management. In the next four years Government pledges to spend £2.1 billion on protecting homes in coastal regions – Mr Benyon highlighted this would translate into protection for an additional 150 homes in the UK.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of the role of the solidarity fund in coastal policy as a safeguard for local communities in immediate danger.
Yesterday evening I raised this issue in the Localism Bill Committee. The Minister was very supportive of this, stating that the Government is very sympathetic to this sort of issue and is exactly what the Bill is being drafted to provide for.
I am very pleased with what came from this meeting; a big step forward has been made in funding for coastal erosion. It is clear Richard Benyon is committed to ensuring the £2.1 billion Government has outlined for flood and coastal management is used to directly address the problems we have on our shorelines.
This meeting follows one Norman Lamb and I attended last week with Minister for Decentralisation, Greg Clark, who gave his backing for a plan to provide extra funds for managing the coastline in Norfolk and is a massive step in allowing coastal communities to take the lead in defending their area in the way they feel is best. The Localism Bill which is being debated at the moment is also key to how coastal policy is managed. The freedom this Bill allows will enable local authorities to apply for solidarity funding and open up additional opportunities to protect their coastline.
Comments
If you are subscribed to HearFromYourMP in this constituency,
log in to post a reply.
Otherwise, if you live in the UK,
sign up in order to
HearFromYourMP.
Posted by colin page, 10:25, Mon 14 February 2011: (Is this post abusive?) #
what a wonderful example of following the party line. say everything and nothing at the same time. i'd forgotton how contrite a politican can be why wereny you at the public enquiry about the white elepant that yarmouth is now saddled with namely the outer harbour?
Posted by Brandon Lewis, 16:38, Mon 14 February 2011: (Is this post abusive?) #
The point here is not party political. Norman Lamb MP and myself have worked to find a way of potentially allowing our community to be in control of its own deistiny in a way it has not be for a long time with regard to its coastline. This is a big step forward in how we finance and manage our coastline, though I also accept there is sitll a long way to go.
With regard to the second part of your point: I was not invited to the County meeting on the Outer Harbour as I was not party to the deal, that was the old MP: who did go and speak. I was at the House of Commons working for Great Yarmouth. If you wish to continue to comment on the harbour there is a specific topic wherre you can do so, as this topic is focused on Coastal Erosion.