In this Section

• A changing coastal landscape
• Caring for the coast and its special wildlife
• Estuaries
• Alde and Ore Estuary Planning Partnership
  • Members of EPP Steering Group
  • EPP Constitution
  • Minutes of EPP Steering Group
• Stour and Orwell Estuary Management Group
• Coastal Knowledge fact sheets

Suffolk Coast and Heaths

Alde and Ore Estuary Planning Partnership

The Alde and Ore Estuary Planning Partnership (EPP) was created in 2003 as a result of local concern about the future of the estuary. Two key events had occurred during the previous year that led the local community to take this action.

Firstly, the Alde and Ore Association identified that there was a need for a detailed evaluation of the economic importance of the estuary. This was intended to support the Environment Agency who, through the Suffolk Estuarine Strategy, were trying to access funding from central government for flood risk management work.  

Secondly, there was a visit to the area by members of the US/ UK Countryside Exchange Team. The aim of these exchanges is to provide countryside professionals with opportunities to meet and work intensively on a single project for about one week to help a local sponsor on a resource-related issue. Eight independent experts from the US and UK spent a week examining issues on the River Alde, providing an independent perspective on the problems facing the river. Describing the River Alde and Ore as a 'gem of the North Sea', the Exchange Team's primary recommendation was a need for better dialogue with local people to gain local support and involvement in the care of the estuary.

Considerable care was paid to drafting terms of reference for the new partnership so that all those with an interest in the estuary could support it. In 2004 a community conference called 'Estuarise' brought more than 140 local people together to improve their understanding about estuarine management and identify key issues.

The Alde and Ore EPP has two key aims:

1. To improve communication and understanding about the estuary

2. To identify and implement improvements in the care of the estuary

The EPP has a steering group with representatives from the local community, recreation groups, government agencies, land owners, conservation organisations, and volunteers amongst others (see listing). This broad base positions the EPP firmly at the community level as a communication network - spreading information whilst helping to feed back local views to relevant bodies.

Why is the EPP different to many estuary management groups?

• Since its inception it has been firmly driven from a community base
• There is equality between all the organisations involved
• All the parties have signed up to the process and have a genuine desire to see the EPP succeed
• Government agencies recognise that, as a key link to the community, the EPP can help them to engage with those that are directly impacted by any actions (or lack of them).