APPENDIX 21
Memorandum submitted
by Councillor Alan Rice, T D, Chairman, Hampshire County Council
Recreation and Heritage Committee (F33)
I refer to your Press Notice dated 6 March 1998
relating to "Flood and Coastal Defence" and I make the
following points which are my own views and are not necessarily
representing those of local organisations of which I am a member.
Neither are they in any priority order.
1. The time allocated for this response
is quite unreasonable particularly bearing in mind the intervening
Easter break.
2. Local Authorities, by virtue of their
cycle of committee meetings will also have had considerable difficulty
in considering your paper and doubtless many will have been unable
to do so within the timescale.
3. Hampshire County Council, foremost in
all the Shire Coastal Counties has been protecting—and acquiring—sensitive
stretches of coastline and river valleys for the sole purpose
of protection and conservation.
4. Duplication of funding across boundaries
is minimal, due to effective representation on Environment Agency
Local Flood Defence Committees by elected members. Since the Counties
are precepted by the Environment Agency for a considerable proportion
of coastal works, vigilance is assured by the presence of locally
elected Councillors, who know their areas well.
5. Hampshire County Council has demonstrated
its commitment to these responsibilties byre-Constituting (with
effect from May 1997) its Coastal Conservation Panel.
6. No need for "funding improvements"
has been demonstrated: the present system works satisfactorily.
7. As a matter of passing interest, Hampshire
has about 9 per cent of the coastline of England and Wales.
Lack of time for response inhibits a better
researched and fuller reply.
16 April 1998
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