Coastal defence strategy 'will be devastating'
Wednesday, October 01, 2008, 00:00
Objectors say it is not only East Yorkshire cliff-edge cottages that are threatened by the Environment Agency's proposed abandonment of centuries-old coastal defences.
The Humber Flood Risk Management Strategy, coupled with a likely rise in sea levels, will mean thousands of acres of farmland and will be flooded regularly by the sea within 40 years.
Holderness is the main area that will be affected by the strategy, but objectors fear not all farmers and householders are aware of the massive threat to their properties.
Fears about future flooding are threatening to put a blight on land and property values either side of the A1033 and B1445 roads from Hull to Withernsea and Spurn Point.
Now, two meetings are being organised to alert farmers and residents to the massive impact the strategy could have on East Yorkshire.
The first has been called by the Holderness National Farmers' Union (NFU) for its members and the second is a public meeting to which everyone is invited.
Farmer Andrew Cook, Holderness NFU branch chairman, said: "This a huge issue for the area and it is vital everyone is aware of what is going on and the potential threats.
"We are aware some farmers and a lot of the general public are unclear about what is at stake and how we, as a rural community, might be affected.
"While a significant amount of farmland will be affected, there will also be a huge impact on the residents of East Yorkshire."
Under the agency's plans for East Yorkshire, 28,000 acres of farmland and up to 1,000 homes could be left unprotected from rising sea levels.
Mr Cook, of Kenby Farm, Owstwick, near Roos, said: "It is a worrying situation for a lot of people and we need to get it sorted.
"The Dutch manage to cope with such situations on a much larger scale, so the threat to our coastal defences is not unsolvable."
Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart will be addressing the farmers' meeting and has also called the public meeting.
He said: "If the strategy is carried out, it will be devastating for Holderness and it is vital everybody knows what is at stake.
"We have estimated £330m of land and property is at risk from the strategy, but the cost of protecting existing defences would be £30m over the next 25 years.
"Regardless of the complex formulas the Government uses to reach its figures, the proposals don't make a lot of sense."
The NFU meeting will be held at the Gardeners Arms in Coniston, near Hull, tomorrow at 6.30pm, and the public meeting will be held in Hedon Town Hall on Wednesday, October 29, at 6.30pm.
