Winterton: Lookout tower plans withdrawn by charity

Winterton Coast Watch has shelved its plans to install an observation post on land north of the village's carpark and has been folded up.

Coastwatch manager Roger Rolph said it was impossible for the volunteer-led organisation to continue because of "endless requests" from planners for surveys of the area, as well as the speed of coastal erosion there. 

Last year, the charity submitted an application to Great Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC) to erect a mobile tower mounted on a trailer.

This followed the station being removed from its former location due to coastal erosion in March.

The old Winterton Coast Watch lookout tower was removed last March because of coastal erosion. (Image: Archant 2022)

The proposed site for the tower was in the Winterton-Horsey Dunes Special Area of Conservation and the Winterton-Horsey Dunes Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

In September, Natural England said it wanted more information because it believed the application could have significant impact on the site.

Mr Rolph said: "We were faced with continual rounds of surveys. This went on and on and on."

In October, the bid faced another obstacle after the sea eroded about 20 metres of the cliffs near the proposed site.

There had to be a minimum of 30m between the tower and the edge of the cliffs. Originally, there was 45m but after the erosion, the site was now only 25m from the edge.

"So we had to move again," Mr Rolph said.

Andrew Sharples and Roger Rolph in the old Winter Coast Watch tower, which was made homeless due to coastal erosion. (Image: Archant)

But this meant they were asked by planners to organise another survey.

Mr Rolph said: "It came to a head in January. We were told we would have to complete a shadow habitats regulation survey, which would cost £740.

"We just can't write cheques out for that sum of money."

The trustees met in January and decided, because of the relentlessness of the erosion and problems with planners, to withdraw the plans and disband the charity.

This means there will be no coast watch station between Cart Gap and Gorleston.

There was once a lookout tower at North Denes, while the station currently operating at Caister has a temporary licence.

Winterton Coast Watch tower being moved into storage last March. (Image: Archant 2022)

Winterton's unit, which is still in storage in Scratby, had a 14-strong team which worked in shifts ever alert to an emergency.

Mr Rolph said: "There won't be anybody there now." 

Winterton Coast Watch started in 2005 and, according to Mr Rolph, saved 10 lives over that time.

During the six weeks of the summer holidays, the village sometimes draws up to 250 carloads of people on a daily basis, he said.

"That's about a thousand people every day for six weeks. But we won't be there to keep an eye. But what can we do? We can't fight the sea.

"But the real problem was the SSI bit," he said.

"Natural England weren't happy. They don't understand what we do, that's the problem."

Great Yarmouth borough councillor James Bensly had supported the bid for a new lookout tower in Winterton. (Image: Liz Coates)

The application had received the backing of Winterton Parish Council and local borough councillor James Bensley, who previously said the service was "needed in the village as soon as possible".

On Monday, a post on Winterton Coast Watch's Facebook page stated that the group was "devastated".

"Flora and fauna of a 27 feet by 19 feet piece of land appears to be more important than human lives," the post added.

"We have had overwhelming support from everyone and local council but still this has had no effect.

"There are only so many £750 searches and payments to professional bodies that a small charity can withstand."

A statement from Great Yarmouth Borough Council said: “It is unfortunate that the Coast Watch have decided to withdraw their application. 

"We will always do our best to offer advice and guidance but Planning Officers are required to take into account special designations and characteristics of an area. 

"In this instance the protected habitat meant that we had to apply a series of tests (immaterial of the applicant or how worthy the cause). 

"We do appreciate the charity’s frustration and are disappointed that they feel the Planning Officers acted unreasonably.”

Natural England has also been contacted for comment.