Scratby Coastal Pathfinder Project

Introduction
Aims of the Project
Coastal Change Drop-In
Scratby and California Community Consultation
Scratby and California Property and Business Study

Great Yarmouth Borough Council has been awarded £296,000 for a one year Coastal Pathfinder Project. The village of Scratby has been put forward by the Council as one of 15 National "Pathfinders”, funded by the Government, to examine how Coastal Communities can best adapt over time to deal with the effects of the ever changing coast line.

Photograph kindly provided by Mike Page

The 15 projects vary in detail but they all involve working with their local Communities to explore ways by which people living and working along the coast can best adapt their lifestyles to the challenges of coastal realignment resulting from natural coastal erosion.

The Scratby project will explore a range of different options in order to find a short list of practical and acceptable possibilities.  It is important for the success of the Pathfinder, and for the long term future, that the community of the Scratby area take the opportunity to become involved and help produce a "vision” of how they see their community in the years to come.

There is already an enthusiastic Group of local Scratby residents who have come together to form the Scratby Coastal Erosion Group [SCEG.]. This Group has consistently lobbied both National Government and the other Agencies responsible for Coast Protection. They have already successfully achieved an amendment to the original Shoreline proposals which now recognise that some coast protection for the Scratby will be necessary in the short term. The  key objective of the Group remains to persuade Government that an existing rock berm along the base of the cliffs at nearby California be extended a further Kilometre north to protect the base of the cliff and Marrams at Scratby.

This work will continue to be the priority for [SCEG] Group.
Unfortunately the Government grant conditions make it clear that money which has been allocated for the Pathfinder Project cannot be use for any physical coast protection works.

To those residents presently living along the cliff line the issue of coastal erosion is  an urgent one whilst, for those in property further away, the plan may better inform them about some of their options.

The findings of the Pathfinder will also help inform other communities Nation Wide.

The project aims to explore a wide range of medium and long term options for better informing and supporting residents and businesses. A wide range of Agencies will be involved ranging from the Planning and Property Departments of the Borough Council to those involved with the provision of services such as electricity, sewerage and water supplies. Research will extend to those involved with tourism and economic development.

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The defined aims of project:-

• the development of a coastal Area Action Plan, in line with the proposed Development and Coastal Change Policy.

• the examination and testing of equity release and equity transfer schemes and opportunities, such as purchase/rent-back, property exchange programmes and business support programmes

• the exploration of land use 'rollback’ options and infrastructure implications

• sources of external and commercial funding that may be accessed to support adaptation programmes

• a programme of community education and information to engage, inform, re-assure and support communities and individuals in coming to terms with coastal change

It is intended that this pathfinder project, although initially focused on a single community, will underpin the development of a Template for Adaptation which can be applied elsewhere.

The Pathfinder Project aims to "Concentrate the mind” and give a "Golden Opportunity” so that residents and businesses can be informed and involved in the development of options and be best prepared for the future.

Following a press release to launch the Pathfinder a letter will be delivered to all Scratby addresses to provide more detailed information; encouraging residents and businesses to participate in the project. It is planned that a significant number, if not all residents, will be interviewed during the project and there will be a number of newsletters during the project to provide more information as it becomes available and to explain progress.

The Project is looking for a suitable site in the village for a Community Information and drop in point.

The Pathfinder is managed on a day to day basis by The Scratby Coastal Management Group which is chaired by Great Yarmouth Cabinet Member and Ward/Parish Council Councillor, Jim Shrimplin. It consists of three Council representatives; three members of the Scratby Coastal Erosion Group; a Business Rep and a member of the Community. The membership of the Group will likely change to reflect ongoing work and new members will be co-opted as appropriate. Technical advice is provide by The Councils’ Coastal Engineering Specialist  

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The Scratby and California Community Consultation
We have appointed Norfolk Rural Community Council [Norfolk RCC] to carry out the a Community Survey.  This will give residents, businesses and landowners in Scratby and California their first opportunity to become directly involved in the project.

Development Officer, Janice Howell is leading the project on behalf of Norfolk RCC.  Her contact details are: Tel: 01362 698216; Email janice@norfolkrcc.org.uk. Please contact her if you have any questions about the consultation process.

Norfolk RCC is an independent charity which helps small rural communities across Norfolk. If you’d like to know more about them please visit their web site at www.norfolkrcc.org.uk.

Janice and her team will be contacting residents from the 17^th until the 21^st of June when they will be carrying out a door-to-door survey to gather some basic information about the village.  This needs to be completed because there is very little detailed information on the community. Scratby is part of the Parish of Ormesby St Margaret and, consequently, information about the village is mixed in with that of the whole Parish and we are unable to separate it out.

We need to know more about the community in order to be sure we consult with you properly.  The survey team will be asking for basic information about your household and your understanding of coastal change issues.  

They will also be asking if residents want to be involved in some of the future “Group” work in the Pathfinder and how best to make make contact for the second more detailed questionnaire which will be both delivered and collected from you at the end of the month.

Norfolk RCC are also in the process of creating a specific web page to help with the Pathfinder together with TEXT and twitter addresses. details to follow.

All the members of the Survey Team are employees of Norfolk RCC; they will carry identification documentation which includes their picture.  If you have any doubts about their credentials please do not hesitate to telephone either the Norfolk RCC 01362 698216 or the Council to check 01493 856100.

All the information gathered is for the Pathfinder Project. It will be managed and stored in a secure way. No details which can identify an individual will be used or contained in the final reports.  At the end of the project all records which have any information that identify anyone directly will be destroyed.

This is a really important part of the Pathfinder process and I hope you will help us get the vitally important information we need to make the Project a success.

We are also moving forward with our next stage of the Pathfinder Project.  This will involve looking at ways to realise and enhance the value of assets, land and property, to support both long term options and intermediate schemes aimed at sustaining the existing coastline until a coastal adaptation management plan can be put in place.

A number of you have already contacted us offering to become more involved.  If you feel that you can also contribute to this important project please let us know  by contacting the team directly at the Scratby Coastal Pathfinder Project Address below

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The Scratby and California Property and Business Study
We have appointed Risk & Policy Analysts (RPA), a Norfolk-based environmental consultancy, to undertake the study looking at options to realise and enhance the value of assets, land and property. This study offers residents, businesses and landowners in Scratby and California the opportunity to help choose ways forward that best meet their needs. The project will focus on how we can deliver practical options that will help those whose homes or livelihoods are at risk from coastal change. The information you have already provided through the questionnaires will be used to inform the types of options that will be considered.

Principal Consultant, Teresa Fenn, is project manager for RPA. Teresa and her team will be holding drop-in sessions and meetings during August and September. They will also be carrying out a survey to collect people’s views on different options for managing the coast. It is important that everyone is involved, so please take up the opportunities which will be provided to tell RPA your ideas on how the coast at Scratby and California could be managed. It will also be up to the people living or working in Scratby and California to choose which options they want to see taken forwards.

RPA have previously undertaken work for North Norfolk District Council looking at coastal erosion issues and ways to reduce the impacts on people and businesses. If you’d like to know more about them and their work, please visit their web site at www.rpaltd.co.uk. If you have any questions about this particular project and the opportunities to be involved, please contact Teresa on 01508 528465 or email teresa.fenn@rpaltd.co.uk

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Coastal Change Drop-In
A coastal change drop-in session will be held on Wednesday 18th August in the Post Office car park at Scratby. It will be open from 11am until 6pm with tea, coffee and cakes provided. The session will be run by RPA as part of the Pathfinder Project. The aim is to discuss how the coast of Scratby and California should be managed. RPA would like your ideas on what sort of actions should be taken to help reduce the potential effects of coastal erosion on this area. You’ll also be able to tell RPA what is important to you about Scratby and California. This information will be helpful when it comes to choosing between actions. There will additionally be an opportunity to discuss erosion and Pathfinder issues with RPA’s project team. If you want to know more about RPA or the project, you can check their web-site: www.rpaltd.co.uk. Keep a lookout for posters and leaflets around the village that will explain more about what is happening.

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