The answers to your questions.
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This is the theory!. The reef is placed in the sea just off the beach just below the present low waterline. The landward side of the reef is then infilled with sand taken from Great Yarmouth Beach. This will have the effect of lengthening the beach. The expectation is that during winter storms the reef will absorb the main thrust from the sea taking energy out of the waves. The longer run up the beach will take even more energy out of the waves, before they hit the sea wall. The reef has a life expectancy of 100+ years.
Result: the present sea wall will not need repairing for at least 50 years as guaranteed by Mark Glennerster (Halcrow Consultancy). This has to be a guarantee as a DEFRA criteria is that any scheme must have a life of at least fifty years.
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Question: (name and address supplied) (Mon 11th / Thurs 14th Oct 2004)
Bernard, I have a few questions regarding the Reefs at Gorleston which I hope you can answer.
- How far from the present sea wall will the reefs be placed.
- Will the reefs be made out of solid pieces of rock all of the same shape laid side by side or will it be a larger number of rocks piled up to make the reefs.
- What will be the overall size of the individual sections of the reef (length, breadth, height).
- How long will the reef be in total and what is the gap between the individual reefs.
In quick answer to your questions the final design has not been completed yet but the following is what is being considered at the moment.
- 75 to 100m
- Single layer of irregular shaped rock.
- 75m long, 25m wide and one rock high (15T)
- Each reef is 75m long there will be 8 reefs with a 75m gap between each.
Bernard Harris (GYBS Engineer)
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Question: There are concerns about the effectiveness of 'cardinal' marking (a flag at each end of the reefs) of the reefs and on the need to determine how best to protect the sea wall. There is a need to build a safe scheme to allow sand to accumulate in front of the sea wall?
Answer:This concern was accepted and the issue of marking the reefs is indeed important. Trinity House have been approached for advice and would be approached again at detailed design for advice on marking. In addition discussion with local sailors and water users would continue.
Question: Will the reefs have the effect on current to those swimming in this area ?
Answer: There will be fill-in behind the reefs with sand, although there would be some minor currents as result of the installation of the reefs.
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Answer: Halcrow were not commissioned to look at the effects of the Scroby Sands wind farm.
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Question: What is the scientific basis of the predicted asset (land) loss on the Gorleston Seafront. There has been no erosion on the unprotected cliff in the area of the Gorleston Golf Club for at least 20 years. The detail in reports stating that there is an annual erosion rate of 2.4 metres per year may not be correct ?
Answer: Every Government study shows a predicted rise in sea level and that climatic changes is happening. Beach profile works at Gorleston takes place twice a year by the Environment Agency. Predicted erosion rates are estimated based on surrounding cliffs in Norfolk/Suffolk and are based on the assumption that the do nothing approach is adopted as a baseline in the economic assessment.
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Question: What effect will the Outer Harbour have on this scheme?
Answer: Modelling work had taken place with regard to the effect of the Outer Harbour and it was agreed that there would be some (unspecified) effect as a result of the Outer Harbour scheme. A monitoring agreement was already in place with East Port.
Question: Does the Council agree that the Outer Harbour will make Gorleston Beach disappear and it is essential for work to be carried out to the sea wall before any works are carried out in respect of the Outer Harbour?
Answer: Ongoing maintenance is planned for the wall but East Port would take responsibility for rectification works as a result of any adverse effects caused by the Outer Harbour.
Question: What happens if East Port go into liquidation?
Answer: In the unlikely event this were to happen, Government have previously taken ports under their management.
Comment: ..... Speechless !!!!! and we think for good reason
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Question: How long before work needs to be carried out on the sea wall? (ie steel failing)
Answer: No accurate answer is available although a survey carried out on the steel sleet piling and the concrete wall for the Engineers report identified certain areas that need work before others, some within five years.
Question: Why has so little money been spent on the sea wall.
Answer: Circa 300,000 in repairs and maintenance has been carried out on sea defences in the Borough over recent years.
Question: How much from the Repairs and Maintenance Budget was spent on the sea wall last year.
Answer: Minimal resources have been spent on the sea wall recently because of the pending scheme.
Comment: ..... slight inconsistency in the last two answers.
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Question: to Councillor Bertie Collins (e-mail Thurs 4th Nov 2004)
Bertie, I have been told by Halcrow that they will not answer my questions as they have been requested by the client GYBC not to answer residents questions. Who is the person responsible for gagging Halcrow and why? I was under the impression that the Council Tax payers of Great Yarmouth were paying Halcrow unless the councillors have had a whip round to pay them.
(name and address supplied)
Answer:
Councillor Bertie Collins has still not responded to this questions despite follow up e-mails. (8th Apr 2005)
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Question: (Sun 7th Nov 2004)
Mr Wright, You are no doubt aware of the Great Yarmouth Borough Council's plan to protect the Gorleston Sea Wall. The plan has been the cause of much disquiet amongst residence. How do you stand on this issue?, bearing in mind that Halcrow the Marine Consultants who were appointed to formulate a plan for sea defenses at Gorleston were not required to go through the competitive tendering process. When Councillor Bert Collins was questioned about this at a recent meeting of some 200 residents in Gorleston answered, "They (Halcrow) were the preferred partner". Are the council allowed to do this? Does this mean that competitive tendering no longer applies? I look forward to receiving your comments and views.
(name and address supplied)
Answer:(Wed 10th Nov 2004)
I have a great deal of reservation about a number of issues that affect our coastline and the scientific evidence being used to support the 'answers' to the problems we face on the coast. You may be aware that I have constantly argued against the scientists views that dredging of aggregates does not do damage to our coastline and that some of the protection schemes put in place in recent years have a knock on effect further down the coast and on that basis I do have concerns over the reef scheme for Gorleston, but when I have spoken to ministers regarding the advice they are given they invariably accept the views of the people who are supposed to be the 'experts'. I will raise the issue again at ministerial level to see what the view is now and I will check on the question of going out to tender.
Yours sincerely
Tony Wright
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