Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / SUFFOLK
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

10:24 GMT, Sunday, 11 January 2009

Court appeal 'a waste of money'

Peter Boggis

A Suffolk man fighting to save his home from coastal erosion has accused Natural England of "wasting time and money" in appealing a court ruling.

Peter Boggis, 77, was stopped from defending the area of coast near Easton Bavents after it was declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 2006.

But last month a High Court judge said Natural England's decision to allow the cliffs to erode was unlawful.

Now Mr Boggis has criticised Natural England for appealing that ruling.

The retired engineer's comments came after the government agency, which is responsible for the country's natural features, announced its intention to take the matter back to the courts.

He said: "Natural England may not think this appeal is a waste of time and money but it most positively is.

"I find the waste of public funds in this matter extremely sad.

"We are fighting for the right of people to protect themselves and their homes."

He said his home and 13 others nearby were at risk of eventually slipping into the North Sea, with one property currently 26ft (8m) from the cliff edge.

Natural England wanted the cliffs to be allowed to erode so that fossils within them would be exposed.

At the time of the appeal being lodged, Shaun Thomas, regional director of Natural England, said the decision to appeal was made to avoid an "unworkable precedent".

He said Natural England wanted to work with Mr Boggis to "find a solution".



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
Home erosion case appeal lodged (09 Jan 09 |  Suffolk )
Man wins cliff home erosion case (05 Dec 08 |  Suffolk )
Decision awaited in erosion case (19 Nov 08 |  Suffolk )
Erosion battle reaches High Court (17 Nov 08 |  Suffolk )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Natural England
Her Majesty's Courts Service
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
UK Contents:  England | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales | UK Politics | Education | Magazine

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©