North Norfolk Pathfinder Happisburgh Open Day

An open day at Happisburgh on Saturday [24 April] will give people the chance to see how some of North Norfolk's £3 million 'coastal pathfinder' money will be spent to find new ways to help communities adapt to a changing coastline.

The funding is not just for Happisburgh – projects are planned elsewhere along North Norfolk's 43 miles of coastline – but Happisburgh is one of the places in the region that has been most affected by coastal change. Working at Happisburgh allows North Norfolk District Council to try to find solutions to a number of problems faced by communities around the UK.

NNDC's £3 million share was the biggest amount given to a single bidder to the Government's £11 million pathfinder programme when the Government made the money available last year. (Norfolk and Suffolk councils received £5 million – almost half the entire available funding.)

The national pathfinder money is designed to allow councils to test ideas for managing areas of the coast and addressing the consequences for communities affected by coastal change, and will potentially lead to new Government policies for managing the effects of flooding and coastal change.

The open day is on Saturday, 24 April, from 10am to 2pm at the Wenn Evans Centre, Blacksmith’s Lane, Happisburgh, NR12 0QT.

It will include displays describing the Happisburgh projects, and staff will be on hand to answer questions. There will also be an opportunity for people to feed in their own comments and information to help inform the way in which the projects are delivered. Weather permitting, staff will also explain some of the issues ‘on site’.

The Happisburgh Projects are due to happen by April 2011. They are:

Clifftop enhancement — This project aims to clear up the clifftop environment and establish a buffer of open land within which the coast can change with minimal detrimental impact on the village. It also includes replacing the car park, public toilets, beach access, clifftop paths and (potentially) other threatened infrastructure like the Coastguard lookout.

Acquiring property for demolition — NNDC is currently recruiting an independent property agent to develop a method of valuing and negotiating the purchase of some properties on Beach Road for demolition, and investigating options for meeting the housing needs of occupiers.

Purchasing properties for lease — This project will see NNDC looking for a way in which ‘blighted’ properties can be purchased and maintained until they are lost to the sea. This scheme could see such properties leased back to the existing occupants, or to others.

Beach debris removal — Following community discussion, this project will see beach debris removed to improve the beach environment.

Coastal heritage project — NNDC aims to help the local community understand and record their threatened heritage, so they can tell their own story and provide an interpretation of the village’s historic, cultural and environmental assets. This project will culminate in an event to celebrate Happisburgh’s future.

Manor Farm Caravan Site relocation — Facilitating the relocation of this business that provides a vital contribution to the local economy.

• For more details please contact NNDC's Coastal Management Team on 01263 516004, or email coastalmanagement@north-norfolk.gov.uk

ENDS