Ahead of Colchester City Council’s July meeting I submitted a written question asking Councillor David King, the Leader of the Council to explain why, when the Council’s first priority in its strategic plan is to ‘respond to the climate emergency’, that plan makes no reference at all to the impact on our local area of rising sea levels and associated issues such as increasing coastal erosion.
In fact, across then UK sea levels have risen by nearly 30cm since 1900. The mid-range projections from the UK’s Climate Change Committee suggest UK sea levels will rise by a similar amount over the next 25 years – as slightly warmer sea water takes up a bigger volume.
This is not something that only climate scientists have been aware of. Two years ago the BBC ran a major story on research from the University of East Anglia which found the local council areas which would be most affected by rising sea levels over the next 25 years included those in Tendring and the Blackwater Estuary.
Nor is this simply an issue which affects Mersea and Pyefleet which I have the privilege to represent. It also directly affects residents and businesses in places such as Rowhedge and Wivenhoe.
Sea level rise, which is currently around 3mm a year but increasing, doesn’t just mean that we need better flood defences. It also impacts a whole range of areas Colchester City Council is responsible for including house building, planning and sea defence.
It is therefore imperative that Colchester City Council works together to get up to speed on this issue as quickly as possible.
After all, the primary responsibility of the local council is to look after our local area and its people.
Dr Martin Parsons
Councillor for Mersea and Pyefleet (Cons)
In fact, across then UK sea levels have risen by nearly 30cm since 1900. The mid-range projections from the UK’s Climate Change Committee suggest UK sea levels will rise by a similar amount over the next 25 years – as slightly warmer sea water takes up a bigger volume.
This is not something that only climate scientists have been aware of. Two years ago the BBC ran a major story on research from the University of East Anglia which found the local council areas which would be most affected by rising sea levels over the next 25 years included those in Tendring and the Blackwater Estuary.
Nor is this simply an issue which affects Mersea and Pyefleet which I have the privilege to represent. It also directly affects residents and businesses in places such as Rowhedge and Wivenhoe.
Sea level rise, which is currently around 3mm a year but increasing, doesn’t just mean that we need better flood defences. It also impacts a whole range of areas Colchester City Council is responsible for including house building, planning and sea defence.
It is therefore imperative that Colchester City Council works together to get up to speed on this issue as quickly as possible.
After all, the primary responsibility of the local council is to look after our local area and its people.
Dr Martin Parsons
Councillor for Mersea and Pyefleet (Cons)
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