Hayling Island Community Board
FURTHER FEARS ON FLOOD DEFENCES - Two subjects dominated the June meeting of the Hayling Island Community Board – crime and flood defences.
Sergeant Pratley, Hayling's local police commander, is seeking to set up a reference group to discuss local policing to ensure that it is more effective and consensual, and he sought the Community Board's views on using them as the reference group.
The board agreed to consider the proposal, being generally in favour of the concept once the details have been fleshed out.
Sgt Pratley then went on to give his usual monthly policing report.
Much time was spent on the plans for flood defences of the north east of Hayling Island, which has not had the same focus of effort from the Environment Agency as the more populous south east of the island.
The unusual weather of March 10 had brought to a head the disquiet felt in the Northney/Tye population at the increasingly dilapidated sea wall and its future. The Environment Agency's Dawn Davison and Gordon Wilson came to offer their reply to a presentation from Judy Clark and Mike Treadwell of the North East Hayling Residents Association.
With 48 people present, including Havant Mayor Councillor John Smith (Hayling East) and councillors Sheila Pearce and Frank Pearce, as well as local land owners, The Ark at St Peter's was packed.
Judy Clark presented a series of photographs and a detailed map showing the March floods and the damage to the seawalls that occurred, together with a map of the extent of the problem.
Mike Treadwell outlined the threat that the continued failure of the EA and Natural England to permit repairs to the seawalls presented to the ancient community of Northney and Tye, and, because of interrupted secondary transport connections, to the whole Hayling community.
He also outlined the opportunity that we now have to improve the quality of life if the moment is seized to improve the sea defences into harbour side walks.
Dawn Davison presented familiar agency plans, well know to Islanders from similar presentations over the past several years. She offered no advance in thinking by the EA and certainly held no hopes of early funding for new defences.
It was apparent that the she expects landowners in the vicinity to look after themselves. The EA is ready to participate in a local self-help working group, Mr Wilson agreed, but there will be no funding in the foreseeable future.
Speaking afterwards, farmer Mary Pike reflected the general feeling of people there when she said "Nothing has changed.
"No guidance, no help, no movement by officials," she said. Local resident Pesi Sorab told of his many attempts to obtain technical help and advice through Havant Borough Council and how fruitless it had been, despite individuals their offering sympathy.
Judy Clark, a retired architect, who is the NEHRA expert on the flood defences, attempted to offer solutions, but it was apparent from Mr Wilson's replies that the Environment Agency is working towards a public consultation over their plans to be issued sometime towards the end of 2008 (delayed from April 2007) and that such proposals should be made then.
Board chairman Terry Worral summed up by saying that the future of flood defences was important to the continued quality of life of all islanders, and he was keen that the relationship between islanders and the Environment Agency forged at this meeting should prosper for the benefit of both.
There are clearly expectations from Islanders that solutions should be found, and that we should expect support in our own efforts from the Environment Agency.
The Youth Service representative brought to attention the bad effects of increased public transport charges. Linda Woodage added the problem also applied to other people without cars.
The Board noted that the recent sharp rises in fuel prices was having a detrimental effect on all, and decided to ask the Hayling's BEST chairman Tony Higham to keep a watching brief.
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Weather for Hayling
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 7 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: North west
