Shepway Sea Defences Under Threat?

11.30.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 15th Sep 2005

Conservative Council plans to CUT almost 10% of the Coastal Protection Maintenance Budget have been condemned by local Lib Dems. According to official Council papers, Conservative run Shepway Council agreed in July to divert money from sea defences to subsidise cesspool emptying across the district.

This is despite a stark warning in the Council's own papers that warned that the Council could be left "potentially vulnerable in responding to coast protection incidents."

The news will shock local people who rely on sea defences to protect their homes from flooding. Yet earlier this week, the Council DENIED that any money has been taken from sea defences and that this was a mistake!

Campaigner Peter Carroll said:

"Local residents deserve straight answers from Tory leaders. Why was this cut even considered in the first place? Have they really seen sense and dropped plans to cut spending on sea defences?"

Related Links:

Report C/05/20 which recommends viring £5,000 from the Coastal Protection Maintenance Budget

Appendix to Report C/05/20

Agenda of the 6 July Shepway Cabinet Meeting which was to receive report C/05/20 including its recommendation to cut £5,000 from the Coastal Protection Maintenance Budget

Minutes of the 6 July Shepway Cabinet Meeting which was to receive report C/05/20 including its recommendation to cut £5,000 from the Coastal Protection Mainatenance Budget

Decision Notice C/05/20 which agrees the recommendation to cut £5,000 from the £55,680 Coastal Protection Maintenance Budget

Minutes of the 27 July Shepway Cabinet Meeting which agreed the minutes from the 6 July meeting as an acccurate record