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Press Release - 31st July 2007
SOS instigates the formation of a Steering Group for the Manhood Peninsula
(Press Release – Joint Statement from Manhood Peninsula Steering Group/SOS 31/07/07)
Following a suggestion by Andrew Tyrie in April, SOS has been putting together a forum consisting of resident, business and community representatives, all concerned by current coast defence policies.
If we are to have any influence on the government we must work with all the groups on the Manhood and in the Chichester Harbour area, because the government won’t listen to isolated lobbies, but will pick them off one by one.
It was with this background that the inaugural meeting of the “Manhood Peninsula Steering Group” took place at Selsey Town Hall, on Friday 27th July. The meeting was opened by Roland O’Brien, spokesman for SOS, who called for a new approach to coastal policy-making. SOS believed that emerging policy did not reflect the needs of the coastal community, which meant proactive, flexible solutions to the problems were being overlooked.
SOS hoped that this forum would decide to take an alternative approach, which highlighted the aspirations of people affected, and then developed practical solutions that were sensitive to their needs.
“This first meeting was all about bringing people together, finding out if there was a consensus of opinion on what we wanted to achieve, and taking the first steps in working out how to do it.
Andrew Tyrie’s involvement is a really important element in this process, and we were especially pleased that he agreed to co-chair the group. His experience and contacts will be of immense benefit.
The presence of the business community was extremely welcome, too, as we think their involvement is a key to moving things forward. Companies like Nature’s Way Foods and Bunn Leisure have invested heavily here, and – along with the farms and smaller businesses represented – employ many hundreds of people. They are significant contributors to the District’s economy.
These businesses are strongly committed to the Manhood and the people who live here, and it’s great to see them proactive in searching for coast defence solutions that will benefit us all.”
After the appointment of Andrew Tyrie and Roland O’Brien as co-chairs, the group discussed what its overall “mission” would be, and strategies for achieving it. A series of briefing papers on key issues will be prepared for the next meeting, to be held in September, in order to develop these strategies. Also the membership will be broadened, whilst keeping the size of the group workable.
Mr Tyrie said:
“I am delighted that we were able to put this group together.
“Neither I, nor my constituents most affected, are convinced by the government’s case for letting the sea in on parts of the coast. At the moment, neither the economic nor the environmental cases look robust. The plain fact is that people are not going to accept losing their homes, their livelihoods and their amenities on the basis of such weak arguments. It is a scandal that the Environment Agency has been scoring environmental considerations and people as of equal weight in their Priority Scoring System.
This was a very helpful and constructive meeting.”
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