Since the storms created two big holes in the wall / path along the River Stour in Shotley Gate early last year, lots of local people have been wanting to know when are they going to be repaired. [background here: http://www.myshotley.com/news-stourpath.html]
There is real confusion and passing the buck about who is responsible for doing this costly work. The (private) owner isn't interested, the county council doesn't have enough money in the rights of way budget, and Babergh? Environment Agency? Suffolk Coast and Heaths? What do you think.
It was looking as if this vital path, which is used daily by locals and others, was going to be lost forever - and potentially soon taking with it the cliff which lies between the vicious North Sea and properties along Estuary Road, Lower Harlings and Stourside.
But there is, I think, some good news coming. At last week's emergency Shotley Parish Council meeting it was agreed to give the go ahead for the work, to the piling / marine construction company currently nearby on King Edward VII Drive working for the marina. Several people have been working behind the scenes to enable the parish council to step into the breach and get the work done via this unique opportunity.
The PC is having to take risks on this project becaase no-one else will, and how else will it ever be affordable?
I'll let you know when I see or hear of progress on this - hopefully in the next couple of weeks.
2 comments:
You said "There is real confusion and passing the buck." Unfortunatley this is a negative consequence of the "Partnership Approach." Everyone can blame everyone else until eventually in frustration a voluntary group tackles the problem. Is this power to the people or a failure to hold those responsible to account. I cannot help but feel that the people of Sholtey have paid twice for this: once through the share of the Community Charge that goes to Suffolk Council and then again through the Parish Precept!
But what I didn't say in my post is that the county council are contributing significantly to the costs of this. This is despite their limited budget for maintaining rights of way, particularly given the increasing problem of coastal erosion. Without organisations combining resources this will not be repaired and therefore the whole path and possibly cliff lost forever.
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