Cley councillor reveals ‘surprise’ at delay in reopening A149 Coast Road in north Norfolk following floods

Councillor David Young, who represents the High Heath ward on North Norfolk District Council. Picture: NNDC (Image: NNDC)

A surprised councillor has questioned the effectiveness of the local authority's emergency planning after a section of one of north Norfolk's busiest roads remained closed - three days after being cut off by a tidal surge.

Councillor David Young, who represents the High Heath ward on North Norfolk District Council, was responding to concerns over Norfolk County Council's delay in clearing sea debris from the A149 between Salthouse and Cley.

He revealed the road was quickly reopened following the storm surge in December 2013, which he pointed out caused more devastation than Friday night's floods.

Councillor Young, whose ward includes Cley and Salthouse, said: 'The A149 is a very important link road and I'm rather surprised it hasn't been cleared because we know it's going to flood from time to time, and it was fairly predictable it was going to at the weekend.

Swans swim on the normally busy A149 Coast Road in Salthouse on Sunday. Picture: ALLY McGILVRAY (Image: Archant)

'I don't know whether there is a set procedure for dealing with these disasters. It doesn't seem like anybody has thought it through. Maybe they have but maybe it wasn't their highest priority.'

But he added: 'In December 2013, I was away for the weekend and when I came back I drove along that road and somebody, somehow, had moved it (all the debris) to one side of the road so you could drive past - and it was much worse then.'

Local residents, who were forced to buy their own shovels to dig their way out at the weekend, have revealed fears for the future of the road, and their communities along the route, unless action is taken to build better sea defences.

The A149 is the main road through Cley and Salthouse and provides a link to Wells and Sheringham and beyond. And narrow back roads quickly became choked with diverted traffic.

Cley visitor centre escaped any damage but its bottom car park was flooded and the neighbouring access road remained partially blocked by flooding and sea debris. Picture: ALLY McGILVRAY (Image: Archant)

Norfolk Wildlife Trust, which suffered 'severe flooding', revealed it is waiting for the Coast Road to reopen before it can open its visitor centre in Cley.

Councillor Young added: 'I know you've got the A148 but that's all you've got and the Coasthopper bus is the only realistic piece of public transport we've got in this part of north Norfolk. I'm surprised now that the worst is over that they haven't made some effort to clear it.'

We are awaiting a response from Norfolk County Council. Have you been seriously affected? Email: ally.mcgilvray@archant.co.uk

The Coast Road between Cley and Salthouse, pictured, remained closed due to flooding and debris on the road. Picture: ALLY McGILVRAY (Image: Archant)