The Deben 49 Autumn 2014 The Deben 49 Autumn 2014 4. Editorial 5. Chairman’s Report. 7. Will Green’s First Committee Meeting - Anne Moore 8. News from the Hards - Anne Moore, David Bucknell. 10. The Journey Towards a Deben Estuary Plan - Christine Block 11. The 2013 Floods - Robert Simper 14. Jacoba and the Tidal Surge - Simon Read 16. The Deben Estuary - After the Surge - Karen Thomas EA. 19. Have you seen this man? - David Bucknell 20. Repair of the River Walls following the Tidal Surge - Robin Whittle 24. How The Deben was Saved! - Denzil Cowdry 25. Memories of Kirton Creek - Jane Bradburn 28. Bawdsey Man Accused of Murder - Peter Wain 31. Artists of the Deben - Annie Turner - James Skellorn 33. Boats of the Deben - ‘Nirvana’ - Pete Clay 36. Deben Reflections - Holidays in Waldringfield - Liz Kennedy 37. Correspondence 38. Officers and Committee Back Page - Autumn Meeting Cover: David Green’s painting of rudders at Everson’s. (David Green has always been fascinated by rudders, the power they evoke, their unique shapes and the way they complement boats, and his pictures.) 3 Editorial However, our expectations of agencies such as the Environment Agency have increased; flooding and coastal erosion has become unacceptable. Perhaps Following the Second World War much we have reached a point where of the legislation aimed at protecting our expectations have increased to and safeguarding the public interest unrealistic levels. in relation to the countryside, parks, habitats, footpaths, rivers and coasts Many question the role of the was passed. The Town and Country Environment Agency and other Planning Act was passed in 1946 and statutory agencies in this new this still underpins planning activity environment. The pressure on our today. Although they have gone coast and estuaries may be increasing through different reincarnations many while resources are decreasing. This of the institutions which today still has necessitated new thinking and led play an important role such as the to new solutions involving private and AONB, Natural England (SSSI’s), the public partnerships. This in turn offers Environment Agency have their origins new challenges to the impartiality of in the post war period. This has been public bodies like planning authorities, supplemented by European legislation when an application is made as a aimed at protecting many aspects of consequence of the authority no longer the environment and natural habitat. being able to fund projects. One can discern a number of trends What is happening on The Deben since then. The agencies became provides examples of some of these larger, employed more staff, became changes as well as the responses both more bureaucratic, exercising more of the agencies and of local people. power and increased reach in many In this edition of ‘The Deben’ we have aspects of life. Gone are the days some interesting illustrations. when families at the Ferry expected to be flooded; the Newsons even had a Suffolk Coastal has drawn back on boat tied up behind their bungalow, just its support for public facilities and in case! places and this has led to the de facto ‘privatisation’ of Bawdsey Quay and the The tide turned in 1979; since when extraordinary efforts Bawdsey Parish successive governments have cut down Council is going to, in sponsoring on public expenditure. This trend was a café and visitors centre, in order exacerbated by further cut backs in to fund the ‘amenity car park and government spending, at central and associated toilets’ which is primarily a local level, following the banking crisis. regional facility. Some of you will not be unsympathetic Christine Block outlines the progress to these developments as many felt that is being made toward completing that some of the agencies had become the DEP and this might be seen as ‘overblown’ and were intervening in a more ‘local’ and less centralised too many aspects of our lives and approach to planning in the Deben exercising unnecessary and unwanted Estuary. Robert Simper and Simon power and control. Read provide examples of the 4 subjective experience of the surge, as well as examples of individuals taking responsibility, given due warning, in the face of a crisis. Karen Thomas, as well as information about the surge, gives an account of how the policies and practice of the Environment Agency in relation to coastal and river flood protection is developing in a more responsive and flexible way. Robin Whittle provides a comprehensive account of the steps Robin Whittle that have been taken post surge to repair breaches and this illustrates the Chairman’s Report new partnerships and local initiatives, which are being forged between It has been a good summer for sailors agencies such as the Environment and I hope you have enjoyed it as much Agency and local landowners. Denzil as Gillie and me. Apart from many days Cowdry reminds us of why flying at Bentwaters is such a hot issue for on the Deben picnicking at Ramsholt, the many members of the RDA. If you are Rocks and Tips, we have had a fortnight thinking of joining the Committee Anne sailing in our Cornish Shrimper around Moore’s account of a recent meeting is the coast of Brittany in glorious sun. required reading. There have been a number of significant ‘Sprit of Place’ is epitomised in Jane concerns for your Committee since my Bradburn’s account of Kirton Creek last report in April. Much work has been and Peter Wain writes about the carried out by landowners to repair and ‘darker side’ of Bawdsey. James upgrade the river wall in several different Skellorn provides an account of how places, some of which is recorded in this the Deben offers inspiration to Annie Turner as an artist. Pete Clay provides edition of ‘The Deben’. an account of his beautifully restored and maintained ‘Nirvana’ designed by River Users’ Code Leaflet: Copies of Albert Strange, who showed how an this leaflet have now been distributed artist can utilise artistic abilities in a to all the Harbour Masters along the practical field of yacht design. Finally, river and are being handed to all local Liz Kennedy in her Deben Reflection and visiting yachts and motor cruisers. give us all hope as she sets sail on the It is has also been distributed to many Deben at 85. of the marinas in Essex so that visiting yachtsmen can be made aware of All of them share an appreciation of the AONB of the Deben. I have had the Deben. meetings with the Harbour Masters and I hope more of you will contribute your Suffolk Coastal District Council (SCDC) Deben Reflections so we can compile and following these have prepared a a volume to celebrate 25 years of the ‘template’ letter for situations of anti- RDA next year. social behaviour. 5 Whisstocks Project: Demolition has details of the Planning Officer. In July been delayed until this autumn. One a letter was sent to the Planning Officer of the reasons for this is because of noting that the Association is concerned a late request by the Developer for a that any increase in flying activities at variation in the planning application. Bentwaters would disturb the tranquillity The Developer claims that he had not of the AONB of the River Deben. realised that the building for holiday accommodation would accrue VAT and Deben Estuary Plan: There have accordingly asked that this building been further delays to the publication of should be changed to permanent this document which is very frustrating residences. The RDA wrote to the for those who have been involved in its SCDC stating that, although the RDA production. Once it has been published remained in support of the overall there will then be a period in which concept for Redevelopment of the the community will be asked to make Whisstocks Site, it was concerned about comments before it is finalised. At the a change to the Planning Agreement time of writing this report I am uncertain and the effect that it may have on how some of the interests/concerns future planning applications with regard of the RDA will be included. Robert to land adjacent to the river. Simper and I (who attend the DE Plan meetings) hope to resolve these points Saltmarshes: Members of the RDA before it goes to print. Committee, with support from Carol Reid, have now completed the first Finally, I note that Annie Leech has survey of Loder’s Cut Island. This decided to retire from the Committee. I includes measurement from twelve would like to thank her for all the clear posts, which have been inserted around thinking she brought to the Committee the edge of the island saltmarsh. Carol and the work she put in to administer has provided photographs and a survey the RDA web site. She will be sorely of the vegetation around each post. missed. And on the subject of the The current intention is to repeat the Committee I would like to give notice survey at six monthly intervals. that Wendy Brown has decided to stand Members of the RDA Committee have down from being Secretary at the AGM been invited to join a Deben Estuary and that we would welcome a volunteer Partnership working group to consider to take on this task. saltmarshes and how dredging material can be used to enhance them. I look forward to seeing you at our Autumn Meeting on Thursday 30th Bentwaters Park Planning October in the Woodbridge Community Application: This application included Hall starting at 7.30pm at which our a section related to flying. An email Guest Speaker, Andrew Hawes, will be was sent out to RDA members alerting giving a presentation on ‘Defence of the them to the application and giving River Walls on the Deben’.