Lowestoft Ness
to Felixstowe Landguard Point
A Shoreline Management Plan is a high level document
that forms an important element of the strategy for flood and coastal
defence. It provides a large-scale assessment of the risks associated
with coastal processes and presents a long term policy framework to
reduce these risks to people and the developed, historic, and natural
environment in a sustainable manner. The production of these plans is
the responsibility of the coastal group within whose geographical region
the plan area is located.
There are 18 regional coastal groups which operate on a voluntary
basis and comprise representatives from maritime district authorities,
the Environment Agency, and other bodies with coastal defence responsibilities.
These groups provide a forum for discussion and co-operation at a regional
level and play an important role in the development of Shoreline Management
Plans (SMPs) for their area.
The Anglian Coastal Authorities Group (ACAG) covers the coastline
between Gibraltar Point to the River Thames. To assist in managing the
shoreline, ACAG is split further into a series of sub-cells. The ACAG
Sub-Cell 3C covers the coastline from Lowestoft to Felixstowe in Suffolk.
Its member organisations are:
- Suffolk Coastal District Council
- Waveney District Council
- Environment Agency
- Natural England
- Associated British Ports
- Harwich Haven Authority
The first generation Sub-Cell 3C Shoreline Management Plan for the
Suffolk coastline between Lowestoft and Felixstowe was completed in
1998, covering a length of coastline of approximately 72 km.
The operating authorities (Suffolk Coastal District Council, Waveney
District Council and the Environment Agency) adopted the recommendations
of the 1998 Plan as a basis for the production of individual strategic
plans, monitoring programmes and studies for parts of their coastline,
and the implementation of appropriate schemes.
It is the intention of the members of ACAG to undertake a thorough
review and update of the Plan, building on the first generation Plan
and taking account of information subsequently collected and changing
circumstances.
The review will be undertaken fully in accordance with and follow
the methods set out in Defra publication “Shoreline Management
Plans Guidance, Volumes 1 and 2. March 2006” (available here).
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