I read with interest Lord Hanningfield’s ideas for rehousing residents of Jaywick and some of the residents’ response.
The information that was missing from the plan, however, was that Jaywick is likely to be flooded as sea levels rise, as a result of global warming.
Unless the Government can be convinced to make Jaywick, and other large areas of the Essex coast, a priority for huge spending on sea defences, the people of Jaywick will need to move anyway.
The Environment Agency had given the Jaywick area a future “once in seven years” chance of flooding, even before the latest Government report on the effects of climate change.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ report, which has just been published, predicts a sea level rise of up to 90cms (three feet) by 2090. This would lead to flooding in areas of Clacton and other coastal towns, as well as wiping out Jaywick.
Our county council should be making a top priority of pressuring Government to provide funds for improving sea defences in Tendring, and making contingency plans in case the worst case scenario happens.
Chris Southall
Burrs Road
Clacton
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