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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Protest near Brown's holiday home | Protest near Brown's holiday home |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| About 500 campaigners, concerned at government policy on coastal erosion, staged a protest on a beach close to the prime minister's holiday home. | About 500 campaigners, concerned at government policy on coastal erosion, staged a protest on a beach close to the prime minister's holiday home. |
| Gordon Brown, his wife Sarah and sons John, four, and Fraser, two, are holidaying near Southwold in Suffolk. | Gordon Brown, his wife Sarah and sons John, four, and Fraser, two, are holidaying near Southwold in Suffolk. |
| Local residents say the government may allow sections of the Suffolk coast to flood as part of a long-term sea defence plan. | Local residents say the government may allow sections of the Suffolk coast to flood as part of a long-term sea defence plan. |
| The Blyth Estuary Group formed a human chain on Southwold beach. | The Blyth Estuary Group formed a human chain on Southwold beach. |
| Protesters said the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) is proposing to stop spending money on flood defences in the Blyth estuary. | Protesters said the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) is proposing to stop spending money on flood defences in the Blyth estuary. |
| 'Difficult decisions' | 'Difficult decisions' |
| They claim such a move could lead to beaches in the Southwold area being washed away. | They claim such a move could lead to beaches in the Southwold area being washed away. |
| Some of the protesters, who linked arms and chanted "SOS", held a banner saying: "Gord Help Us. Save Our Shoreline." | Some of the protesters, who linked arms and chanted "SOS", held a banner saying: "Gord Help Us. Save Our Shoreline." |
| Environment Minister Phil Woolas told the BBC: "The idea that we are abandoning the coast is unfair. | Environment Minister Phil Woolas told the BBC: "The idea that we are abandoning the coast is unfair. |
| "Huge amounts of taxpayers' money is being used to defend land in this region, but there are very difficult decisions to be made. | "Huge amounts of taxpayers' money is being used to defend land in this region, but there are very difficult decisions to be made. |
| If he sticks his hand in his pocket and funds our defences, then we'll roll out a red carpet the whole length of the promenade for him Sue Allen, chairman of the Blyth Estuary Group | If he sticks his hand in his pocket and funds our defences, then we'll roll out a red carpet the whole length of the promenade for him Sue Allen, chairman of the Blyth Estuary Group |
| "For example we have to consider that defending one area of coast could have knock-on effects for other stretches." | "For example we have to consider that defending one area of coast could have knock-on effects for other stretches." |
| Members of the Blyth Estuary Group urged Mr Brown to spend more on protecting the coast. | Members of the Blyth Estuary Group urged Mr Brown to spend more on protecting the coast. |
| Group chairman Sue Allen said: "Our whole coastline is under threat from the lack of funds for maintaining sea defences and we need Gordon Brown's help. | Group chairman Sue Allen said: "Our whole coastline is under threat from the lack of funds for maintaining sea defences and we need Gordon Brown's help. |
| "Of course there are other demands on tax money - and the economic climate is tight - but what is more important than preserving our land and our way of life for future generations? | "Of course there are other demands on tax money - and the economic climate is tight - but what is more important than preserving our land and our way of life for future generations? |
| "This is our heritage. That's why it's called the Heritage Coast. | "This is our heritage. That's why it's called the Heritage Coast. |
| "Gordon Brown's government announce initiatives to link up coastal paths and say how important our coastline is and then fail to fund protection of it. | "Gordon Brown's government announce initiatives to link up coastal paths and say how important our coastline is and then fail to fund protection of it. |
| "The sea coming in is not inevitable, it is just a matter of political will. | "The sea coming in is not inevitable, it is just a matter of political will. |
| "We need him to fund protection of our coastal defences for generations to come. | "We need him to fund protection of our coastal defences for generations to come. |
| "If he sticks his hand in his pocket and funds our defences, then we'll roll out a red carpet the whole length of the promenade for him." | "If he sticks his hand in his pocket and funds our defences, then we'll roll out a red carpet the whole length of the promenade for him." |
| When Mr Brown arrived in East Anglia on Saturday he said he understood locals' concerns. | When Mr Brown arrived in East Anglia on Saturday he said he understood locals' concerns. |
| He said experts were analysing the best way to protect UK coastlines as rising temperature caused sea levels to rise and the government was spending hundreds of millions of pounds trying to find the right answer in each area. | He said experts were analysing the best way to protect UK coastlines as rising temperature caused sea levels to rise and the government was spending hundreds of millions of pounds trying to find the right answer in each area. |