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No. 11 May 2003
The foremost reason is that the Naze cliffs are a designated 'Site of Special Scientific Interest', or SSSI. This gives English Nature un-accountable, un-conditional and un-questionable power to control what happens to the Naze cliffs and they wish them to continue to erode. The reason they give for erosion is to expose the Red Crag that is used as a date reference for younger geological deposits. Ironically, if the cliff continues to erode there will be no Red Crag, which defeats their objective. The currently exposed Red Crag layer is there, and further erosion is unlikely to yield anything new and therefore the entire English Nature policy is questionable; but as previously stated, they are not open to question. Even English Heritage responsible for protecting listed building such as the Naze Tower are not listened to. The Society pointed out to English Heritage that if the cliff continues to erode the Tower would fall in the near future. They passed this fact onto English Nature but nothing more was heard.
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Further extensive erosion during the winter has occurred putting the Tower, which already has an observable list, at risk (see picture). But there is no chance at present of creating a defence system to protect the Naze. At recent meetings between the various parties, the local council have ratified the following conclusions regarding the 'state of play': |
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The second item refers to a recent proposal for an experimental length of defence comprising 'mattresses of tyres'. The scheme had successfully been used in river estuaries and has the advantage of being a relatively cheap solution for coastal defence. The third item refers to the long established scheme agreed some years ago, which even English Nature agreed not to oppose. However a recently completed mathematical model of soft cliff erosion, of which the Naze is a classic example, has, according to the local council, shown that the scheme would not be effective.
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Emplacement at Tower Groyne. The end of the existing hard sea defence causes greater than normal erosion rates at that point and as this is adjacent to the Tower it is in now in imminent danger of collapse. The local council have agreed to enhance the rock placement that they positioned there a couple of years ago (see picture). However, to extend it to a length that will save the Tower requires the permission of English Nature which is currently being sought by the council. |
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Since 2002 the Society has acquired a new/newer caravan plus awning for its information centre on the Naze (see picture). Mike and Sue run this and have created the smallest museum in Walton. It contains many locally found fossils. Society garments and literature on the area are sold. Displayed outside is a tide timetable and a list of the rarer birds seen on the Naze in recent days. |
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The Society played its part in a recent local exhibition of local organisations and their
role in the community. The display and explanation given of the activities of the Society were
well received and complimented on by the organisers. |
This continues to be our main source of income. Together with tabletops and car boot sales the Society accumulated 000 in 2002. The Society currently has 000 ready to save the Naze as soon as an opportunity presents itself. We need more shop helpers if we are to achieve our aim of opening the shop for more hours in the summer, please ask in the shop if you can assist for a couple of hours a week. |
This is at the Red Triangle Club in Walton on Friday 25th July at 7:30p.m. when, apart from the formal business, there will be a guest speaker.