Easton Bavents erosion homes plan comes under fire

Some considerable discord arose at an extraordinary Parish Council and Reydon District Council meeting with residents when an opportunity was given to people to air their views about a potential housing scheme that could see families in erosion-threatened Easton Bavents moved to nine new properties at Rissmere Lane East, Reydon.

The tabled plan claimed to help people whose homes are threatened by coastal erosion came under fire amid claims that people impacted had insufficient input in the project. Fears were also raised about the encroachment of the development onto Reydon’s Mere — an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). Concern was expressed that some home owners at Easton Bavents may even use the scheme to sell their properties at a greater profit once built. The Easton Bavents residents, of course would obviously wish to see their present homes properly protected from the ongoing erosion.

Waveney District Council, planning advisor Pellings and Waveney Pathfinder — the organisation behind the scheme — said they would take people’s views into consideration as the project moved forward. A spokesman for Pathfinder said: “The Pathfinder Board is sensitive to the views of the potential host community and has kept the parish council informed of developments as it has progressed”

Speaking after the meeting, MP for Suffolk Coastal Therese Coffey called on the Waveney Pathfinder board to be “transparent” about the decision to choose Rissmere Lane East. She said: “I would like them to give transparent reasons as to why they have recommended that particular site over others. It would be helpful for the residents of Reydon.”

The Waveney Pathfinder Project sets down a land rights transfer policy allowing people living in Easton Bavents to relocate to safe sites inland and build similar properties under the same planning permission. The outline planning permission applied for by the district council in Reydon would establish that land can be developed, but further planning consent would be needed before properties could be built.

The full story by Ben Woods can be read in the Lowestoft Journal, 7th September 2012


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