Scheme to abandon Norfolk Broads dropped

[KeenTeen17]

This should be good for the native flora and fauna

Scheme to abandon Norfolk Broads dropped - Telegraph

[smartie]

Yes, it will be - though there would have been new opportunities for other species if the salt marsh had been allowed to return. Probably even better news for the hundreds of people who were facing flooding of their homes

Typical newspaper reporting, btw. It was never a "scheme" or a "plan" - it was just one of a number of possible options that were in a report for discussion.

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by smartie

..... Typical newspaper reporting, btw. It was never a "scheme" or a "plan" - it was just one of a number of possible options that were in a report for discussion.

Quite so and it wasn't a matter of abandoning all the Broads either.
I don't think that the objectors were concerned about wildlife at all - they were only bothered about saving their houses and farmland.

The point has been made that if sea level continues to rise then flooding will occur anyway - planned or not .....

[Hobjob]

But there managed retreat is still on the plans for Blythburgh, Walberswick, Dinbgle marshes and Minsmere.

The latter when it goes will leave the Sizewell power stations sitting on an island of sand in the sea

And by then there will be four of them!

[smartie]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

I don't think that the objectors were concerned about wildlife at all - they were only bothered about saving their houses and farmland.

Well, I can hardly find it in my heart to blame them for that. If it was my home that I'd lived in for 40 years I don't think I would be too happy about the prospect of it vanishing under the waves. Particularly given the ridiculously inadequate financial compensation that is usually offered in these cases where authority decides it's for the greater good of the rest of us.

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by smartie

Well, I can hardly find it in my heart to blame them for that. If it was my home that I'd lived in for 40 years I don't think I would be too happy about the prospect of it vanishing under the waves. Particularly given the ridiculously inadequate financial compensation that is usually offered in these cases where authority decides it's for the greater good of the rest of us.

If they'd lived there that long they'll probaly be dead before the flooding happens! Yes, you can understand the obejctions of such people but I think you'll find that a lot of the other objectors are not losing their homes but are developers, estate agents and the like worried about losing their income!

You can see the same sort of people who have been objecting to the formation of the Downs National Park - they blatantly state that their objection are because they will not be able to develop green land, won't be able to build roads, won't be able to start up out of town shopping malls etc etc ....... Don't ever think that these people have the slightest concern with nature, te future or anything other than filling their own pockets .....

[Rob_D]

I guess the changing coastline is nothing new - I was surprised to find that there was once a big town at Dunwich - 8 churches etc, and now all gone into the sea.

Bit worrying about the nuclear power station isn't it? I guess they'll have to spend whatever it takes to protect that from going under. (to add to the billions it will cost to decommission).

[treecreeper]

Originally Posted by Hobjob

But there managed retreat is still on the plans for Blythburgh, Walberswick, Dinbgle marshes and Minsmere.

The latter when it goes will leave the Sizewell power stations sitting on an island of sand in the sea

And by then there will be four of them!

I didn't know this Hobjob. Last year I had a wonderful holiday in that area, staying in Snape. I found common dodder on the beach in front of the Sizewell power station, a new plant for me. Could have done without the armed police patrolling though. Behind the power station was large thyme, another new find.

Nothing to do with natural history or the environment, but talking to the locals who knew Benjamin Britten was interesting. And you get a different class of busker in Aldeburgh. There was a lady flautist on the promenade playing Eric satie.

[fairplay]

Hi Treecreeper,

Would you be kind enough to elaborate on your finds please, i.e. was it 'A'
Station where you found common dodder, if so was it on the bank and on gorse ?
When you say you found large thyme 'behind' the power stations, that's quite a big area, were you by chance on 'Sandy Lane' ?

Alternatively, could you give your finds and detailed location to : SBRC, The Museum, High St, Ipswich, IP1 3QH.
This is the Suffolk Biological Record Centre whom I'm sure will be very grateful for your information.

I appreciate Hobjobs concerns, but methinks he's exaggerating slightly as when the sea does breach again at Minsmere, only the North reed-bed will become flooded and only inland as far as the bund already in place and only south as far as the raised path which takes visitors from the reception to the East hide on the beach.
Although I hate to say this, the Sizewell Stations Complex will remain safe from the sea for many years to come and the government of the day will have to ensure it does.

Neil.

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by fairplay

I appreciate Hobjobs concerns, but methinks he's exaggerating slightly as when the sea does breach again at Minsmere, only the North reed-bed will become flooded and only inland as far as the bund already in place and only south as far as the raised path which takes visitors from the reception to the East hide on the beach.
Although I hate to say this, the Sizewell Stations Complex will remain safe from the sea for many years to come and the government of the day will have to ensure it does.

In the short term that is true Fairplay - indeed there are plans afoot to raise the North Wall (the main path to the sea from the visitor centre) to hold the inevitable breach to the North marsh area. Shot term here means 5-20 years.

A drainage system has already been built to speed up drainage of the salt water that ingresses, and reduce chances of slat water getting into the Scrape proper.

The big report by Pye and Blott in 2006 [1] has of course been superceded in some respects. In autumn 2007 there was the largest over-topping since the storm of 1953, and this over-topping occured in spite of no local storm; the waves were only about a metre high - though there was a stiff breeze, hence the wind blown spume (there was a Northerly Storm at the North end of the North Sea though). The sea was breaking on the inner clay bank (and ran through some of the rabbit holes!).







There was also significant overtopping between the North Wall (Coney Hill) and the sluice - the fans of shingles are still present.




But the cliff erosion conitnues at half a metre a year, and that bit of beach at the North end of the North marsh is just not going to be there in a very few years.

Sea level rise is variously predicted to be 15cm - 2m!! Storms are expected to increase. Half a meter increase will mean the shingle will over top almost every spring tides.

In terms of protecting the Sizewell power stations I agree that it is likely that they will be fine in our and our children's lifetimes. But the half life of plutonium is 24,000 years, so for our future generations we need to protect the contaminated sites for 10 x 24,000. Human unity has not been too good in the last 1,000 years.

When the Minsmere cliffs have gone, I don't give the North wall or the New cut (the Minsmere river leading to the sluice) much chance of surviving even 100 years.



[1] http://www.allenpress.com/pdf/coas_22_232_453_473.pdf