(Image credit: Paul Harrop (cc-by-sa/2.0))
Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness, is delighted that Minister Jake Berry has put through to the next stage the ERYC’s £3m bid to the ERDF for increased rock armour protection for the south end of Withernsea. If ultimately successful, ERYC will provide the cash shortfall of £2m for the £5m scheme to extend the existing defences by 400m. This work will extend the life of Holmpton Road and Hollym Road.
Graham said “Residents and business owners at the south end of Withernsea have been concerned for years about the coastal erosion creeping ever closer to their premises. If nothing is done to protect Holmpton Road, their homes and businesses could be lost. Councillors Lyn Healing, Dave Tucker and I are determined to do everything in our power to bring the necessary investment to the town so ERYC can extend the existing defences with 400m of rock armour.
“I wanted Jake Berry MP, the Northern Powerhouse Minister, to see for himself the challenges of beating back the coastal erosion, and to understand the devastating effects doing nothing to stop the sea moving ever closer to businesses and homes would do. It’s all very well seeing a business case on paper, but there’s nothing like seeing for yourself what it actually means to people’s lives. I’m grateful he took the time to visit us in Withernsea at the end of last year, and he took away with him the reality of what it will mean if money isn’t found for a protection scheme.
“Councillors Dave Tucker and Lyn Healing continue to do sterling work on behalf of their residents, encouraging Council officers to find the funding needed to protect this vulnerable coastline. The Councillors know they have my full support at Government level. I continue to lobby my Ministerial colleagues at every opportunity to bang home to them why we need the money.
“After last year’s disappointment that the ERYC’s bid to the Coastal Communities Fund was turned down the Councillors and Council officers immediately jumped to it and got in this bid to the ERDF. We’ve just had the news we’ve been hoping for, that the £3m bid has won through to the second stage of the funding process. ERYC will now put together the full business plan to submit with their bid. I know Lyn Healing and Dave Tucker will be scrutinising closely the business plan to make sure it makes the case as strongly as possible. And when Jake Berry makes his final decision, he’ll have the advantage of having seen the challenges the town faces for himself.”
Councillor Dave Tucker said “Councillor Lyn Healing and I have been working extremely hard with Council officers on this. The most important issue for people living and working at the south end of town is that the coastline should be protected so their homes and businesses aren’t at risk of being lost to the sea. Lyn and I are absolutely delighted with the news that the £3m bid to the ERDF has got through to the next round and we commend the Council officers for their excellent work so far. Now we will put in maximum effort, with Graham’s generous and steadfast support, to make sure the full business plan makes the case for extended rock armour as robustly as possible.”
