We Must Fight to Protect Our Coastline: An Open Letter and Plan of Action from Norman Lamb MP

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 27th May 2008

Firstly I must take this opportunity to to make it very clear that I will do everything I can to argue the case for this coastline to be defended and for any option which involves withdrawing or not maintaining defences at some date in the future to be formally withdrawn. It is imperative, in my view, that we remove the threat which hangs over these communities as a result of the publication of Natural England's options.

"We must protect this national treasure and the people threatened by its disappearance"

I have now received a great many letters and emails about this topic and this reflects the strength of feeling in the communities affected. People have a number of serious concerns but the main issues being highlighted are the lack of any consultation with the communities affected and the failure to account for the human cost of them; the blight on property prices; lack of any compensation package; the fact that existing sea defences are being neglected and our international responsibility to protect the sensitive environment of the Broads.

As your MP I feel it is essential that everybody knows the details of the action I am taking to protect our coastline:

1) I have launched a parliamentary petition (which you can sign on this website or in hard copy from local residents). It is important that we get everybody locally signed up, together with people who visit the area or who are familiar with it and recognise its special value. We are looking to have as many people signed up as soon as possible so that I can present these signatures to Parliament.

2) I have written to Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, inviting him to visit North Norfolk and meet with local representatives and local people.

3) I have also written to the Chief Executive of the Environment Agency and Natural England and to another Minister at DEFRA with specific responsibility for the coast, Phil Woolas.

4) I am looking into the possibility of a lobby of Parliament - giving local people the chance to come to Parliament to make their protest. We may also try to perhaps combine with other threatened communities elsewhere in the country to maximise the Parliamentary protest. I have spoken to Graham Stuart, the Conservative MP for Beverley, who represents communities faced with a similar challenge. Graham is vice chair of the All Party Coastal and Marine group (which I chair) and he is interested in this possibility.

5) Graham Stuart and I are looking into the possibility of visiting Holland as part of an all party delegation to meet with policy makers, interest groups and scientists to understand better the approach there. My hope is that this may give us more ammunition with which to challenge our Government.

6) I have written to an eminent human rights lawyer in the House of Lords to explore the possibility of arguing that Natural England's fourth option may fall foul of the Human Rights Act.

Finally I do think it is very important that we speak with one voice and make it very clear to the Government that these communities cannot be abandoned and that we will not allow this to happen. I will try to keep you informed on the website of any progress or changes.

With best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

P.S. Please sign the petition on this website!

Related Link:

Norman Lamb's Parliamentary Petition.