Today, a meeting was convened at the Village Hall for the people of Walcott by North Norfolk Council.
It was called at very short notice, people at work could not attend and they intended to tell us what they would do for us in the recovery side of things and absolutely nothing else. Sadly for them, it was packed with irate parishioners who were not going to be told what and how the meeting should be about.
We sat through a dialogue of what they wanted the meeting to be about mainly the recovery process which consisted of sending a rubbish truck out to pick up all the discarded items and asked what other areas needed attention. They soon got short shrift from this, the villagers were not going to be told what to do when their homes had been under water with their lives at risk by not getting a warning, even though their was a siren in Walcott.
However, they revealed that after five days a debriefing hadnt taken place, although the person holding the meeting was in the control room when the crucial decision was made, he would not shed any light on why the decision was made for the sirens not to be turned on.
In fact, they refused to answer several of the most pertinent questions the parisioners asked repeatedly and spoke in continuous jargonese. The people who were in charge of the decision did not send a representative, questions were deflected or a blank refusal to answer.
Another meeting was demanded with answers and the people who should be there in attendance rather than the council official who obviously had drawn the short straw and took all the flak.
It got heated and many people left in tears, especially a disabled man and my butch son in law who could not take anymore of their lame duck excuses. The village is in uproar, disgusted at the poor perfomance from the Council and Agencies involved.
The local politicians are jumping on the bandwagon, although Norman Lamb was absent but under the hurriedly called meeting perhaps that was not his fault. When a local politician asked a very relevant question we all wanted answered, the council official refused to answer him and accused him of playing politics. A huge groan went up at that. We did not get an answer.
The questions asked:
Why the flood sirens were not used. The flood wardens told the control room that it was going to flood but the control room ignored the advice coming from the people on the ground at the time and the only alert was for low risk.
The village wants the keys to the siren taken from the agencys and given to the flood wardens
Who made the decision not to use the sirens and why
What will happen in the future?
Why many people did not receive a telephone warning of any sort even when registered to the Flood Watch system.
What measure are being taken to repair the breaches of sea defences.
Many many more
Why it seemed Walcott was left defenceless with emergency vehicles sent to Gt Yarmouth, no sandbags available, they were offered leaflets from another council official, five days after the event on how to defend their homes from floods.
We got nowhere, just promises of maybes in the future after meeting upon meeting with agency upon agency involved. Burocracy, meetings, paperwork and then the decision will be made. After another flood? who knows
The people wanted reassurances and the assurance the siren will be sounded in the future. Not much to ask when life and property were at stake, they received a rubbish truck.
Don't let it drop Jill, and I hope Norman Lamb gets on side with you, he seems the best MP in the county I wish he was mine.
The questions the people of Walcott are asking would seem to me to be relevant to all of us who live on the East Coast. Whilst Walcott is especially vulnerable there are other villages in East Norfolk that are low lying and which could be inundated next time eg Palling, Waxham, Horsey, and Caister.
There seems to be a growing trend for council officials, the people we pay to work for us, to try to prevent our elected representatives from speaking up for us and looking after our interests. I believe there are fairly new rules for local councils and officials are making the most of them to suppress public discontent with their pet projects or inefficiencies. I have in mind a meeting about a traveller site called off by an official because "too many people might attend " and another instance where a councillor was told he could not vote on an issue because he had taken a public stance before a council meeting. Strangely enough I thought that was what councillors were meant to do, have an opinion!
If the worst comes to the worst and you get no joy with the siren perhaps the parish council could have a whip round and Walcott could have its own independant warning.
We have a fundemental problem is this country, when serious issues are involved to small communities, Fat Cats are readily taken care of and live in ivory towers, based on legalised theft of unearned wealth. The fact that most of us don`t aspire to those dizzy hights and have to live in the real world, and have to confront real issues when they occour.
Walcot like many other places never have the backing of those ivory tower merchants, or indeed much help. The fact that Walcot is not an major assest, and is treated accordingly...... or thats how it appears, based on help and assistance offered.
The fact that assurance is not forthcoming, and for somebody to listen and act for what Walcot requires, is sad but not suprisingly a fact that this country shows the lack and disgrace in at least trying to look after their own, when assistance is required.
Jill I hope things turn out better, but as you explain how things are turning out so far, a different approach maybe the next move.
I wish you all well...........
Well the dust has settled a bit now, Robert
We are under the opinion that another meeting will be called when things have calmed down because it is to the their advantage not to have to face the local community's anger at this time.
It is dreadful that because of the meeting yesterday, it has degenerated in to a them v us situation because of the nature of the councils response.
They actually made a very poor PR decision to expect to keep the meeting to recovery issues, it backfired badly and left the council acutely embarassed by the non acceptance of their answers by the people in attendance.
It has also degenrated into political bickering between the various interested parties. This was disgusting as they have hijacked our plight already for their own ends and ego trips. In our opinion, neither the council or the local activists came out of this very well. We were appalled, disgusted and sad that the people who are supposed to be empowered to look after our interests were more interested in saving their own necks or furthering their own political aims. We were being used for the same old cat fight which had gone on previously between them over many other issues.
I found the council official antagonistic towards the local activists which did not help our cause one iota. Shameful.
There are other avenues open to us and we are getting together evidence from peoples experiences. I have today, emailed Norman Lamb to ask if he would back or apply for the Flood Wardens to be awarded a Bravery Award for their stirling efforts. We were told that we were indeeed very lucky, only a slight change in the conditions there would have been huge waves and certain fatalities. The Flood Wardens were in the front line and the sea could have breached the walls at any time, sweeping them away. They were up to their thighs in water but kept their spirits high and helped us through a dreadful experience. Even carrying my poor little dog, recovering from an operation, gently to the Land Rover.
We then asked again that under these circumstances, would the siren be used then, No answer or assurances given.
Everyone in that room from Walcott wanted the sirens, what is the problem?, it is there, maintained, tested but not used. We do feel that the agencies will regard this as a pointer that they did the right thing. It was said that Walcott was sacrificed for Gt Yarmouth and under the number of potential fatality figures, that was correct and as it should be. But to hinder Walcotts evacuation by not allowing the sirens to be used was crass and dangerous stupidity. For what reason, not to panic residents or because it did not affect the whole of Walcott. Unbelievable. These decision makers had our lives in their hands.
As one lady pointed out, she would rather be in a panic than drowned. Common sense, sadly lacking in the silver control room that night.
If you read the official plans for coastal defense Jill, you will confirm that they are planning to do NOTHING to prevent the continual flooding of most of the Norfolk coast.
This also confirms their acceptance of the inevitable fatalities, which are just acceptable figures to them.
Sick people all of them IMO.
You want them controlling your lives?
Dream on
keithgerrard@gerrard24.freeserve.co.uk
Well Robert, the attack begins
Anglia TV last night and Radio Norfolk tomorrow at 8.00am
Wish us luck, we dont half need it.
It seems the meeting was planned to be at a time when the least of people could attend. What they forgot is the majority of people living around this area are not young and the meeting was well attended.
Why are the council acting like this towards the very people they should be helping?
It could be because you and your fellow - voting - citizens have the temerity to question the exalted ones. You really should know your place and, apparently, 'they' think so too and want to remind you of it and keep you there.
Perhaps it's time to storm the .... whatever it is you have in Walcott that resembles that Bastille thing they had in France?
As some erudite sage once said in appropriate Queen's English, 'Stick it to 'em'.
Like many of the local residents said at the meeting, they cannot sleep since the floods, neither can I.
I was reading the North Norfolk News which had an article about the flood sirens and they cost £35000 per year to maintain.and this was why they were trying to get them stopped.
So I thought I would take a look at North Norlk Councils accounts to see what they do have the money to spend on, it may not come from the same budget as the sirens but it does come from the council tax payers in our villages and surrounds.
£250, 000 New toilets and environmental improvements at Mundesley
£5830 Cromer Offices, smoking shelter
£26.000 Refurbished staff toilets
£100,000 Toilets at Sea Palling
£113,000 Improved lighting for offices
Well it seems toilets are a far higher priority that flood warning sirens to North Norfolk Council especially where their staff are concerned.
North Norfolk Council, you have let Walcott down, how about an apology for starters
Jill wrote: Well Robert, the attack begins Anglia TV last night and Radio Norfolk tomorrow at 8.00am Wish us luck, we dont half need it. It seems the meeting was planned to be at a time when the least of people could attend. What they forgot is the majority of people living around this area are not young and the meeting was well attended. Why are the council acting like this towards the very people they should be helping?
Jill, as payers of your community charge, then basic standards should be available to you in your area,
If your area requires special needs due to location as is your case, a Siren and the servicing of it, based upon the possbility of need, should never have been a problem. And should be install by law
As the Siren is to indecate to people the possiblity of high tides, then a coastal area like yours should have one by law as a minimum requirement..........One road speed camera would over fund it every year.
Has anybody considered sueing the council or the agency for breach of safety. the whole east coast in our area was on high aleart as per Media coverage a least 12 hours in advance. A warning not given by those involved in having the job to do so, should be taken to task over their failure.
Adsa carpark in GY had a an Anglia TV camera unit at 6pm the night before.........
Don`t give up, start rattling some cages, establish a better Siren system for future years....lives will depend on it...
This experience has proved your need for postive action.......Warnings often saves lives.....
This issue is very very important john and not just because of the obvious threat of flooding.
The politicians will give lip service to the dangers but will do NOTHING because of PARTY politics.
They dare not set a major national president, which support of sufficient flood defense for East Anglia would be.
The councils have their hands tied by lack of resources it is true but to continue with lame excuses and passing the buck is a sick and corrupt response. They were voted into their positions to SERVE the people in their areas, by avoiding the issue they are proving beyond any doubt that they are completely unfit for their jobs.
The point this all makes, is that British politics and the media is now so controlled by outside insidious forces that officials dare not even side with the citizens that they represent to protect their lives.
All I would require is for just one political greed merchant or editor to come out and say they agreed with the need to protect the lives of Norfolk people and to use their position to make the media and their owners in Westminster take notice.
Until that miracle happens I will NOT follow their course in any way and I suggest the people of Walcott do not either.
Thank you for your comments
We have started a petition and the names are flooding in (pardon the pun) I went to the local public houses and the people from all over the country were more than happy to add their names and state how shocked they were about the refusal to sound the siren.
Local people are standing in line to sign the petition, so it is in full swing as we speak.
Save
Our
Siren
Please sign the
petition if you
agree the siren
should be in the
control of the
Walcott Flood
Wardens
Please send your email support to gilliedew33@hotmail.com, they will be included with the petition signatures. Your comments would also be aprreciated.
Thank you
Copyright © 2007 Archant Regional Limited. All rights reserved. Terms and conditions