Climate change campaigners from Lowestoft to hit capital

But ahead of that climate change advocate group - Use Your Voice Lowestoft - will be holding a day of films, music and activities "focused on our town".

The Use Your Voice Lowestoft logo. Picture: Use Your Voice Lowestoft (Image: Use Your Voice Lowestoft)

The group - who are "united by a desire to take positive action for change in our community and to use our voice to raise awareness of the challenges and the opportunities that climate change is bringing to this town" - aims to persuade local and national government to put climate change at the heart of decision making.

They also aim to "have a conversation with fellow Lowestoft people about the opportunities for change here and now – and to take positive steps towards that change."

A visualisation of the 40m tidal barrier earmarked for Lowestoft. Picture: East Suffolk Council (Image: East Suffolk Council)

As part of that, group members were in Lowestoft town centre on Saturday as they spoke with locals about the town's tidal barrier project, while asking wider questions on the future of Lowestoft as a flood-safe town and what is being done about climate change adaptation and mitigation.

It comes after work to construct a tidal flood barrier in Lowestoft was halted in January amid a £124m funding shortfall.

The start of work began on the Lowestoft Flood Protection programme in 2021. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

The scheme forms part of the wider Lowestoft Flood Protection programme, which saw 1.5km of tidal flood walls completed in October 2023.

Flooding in 2013 in Lowestoft. Picture: Newsquest (Image: ©Archant 2013)

Last month Use Your Voice Lowestoft group member Kate Stott, asked a question of East Suffolk Council leader Caroline Topping at a full council meeting about the delay to the project, and the potential to revive it.

At the meeting, Mrs Topping said: "Conversations have continued with the department for the environment, food, and rural affairs, and the EA in an attempt to achieve this funding and, if achieved, we would look to restart the project."

'Land of Promise'

With the group collecting survey responses last weekend, this Saturday they will hold a free event – Lowestoft, Past and Future – at the United Reformed Church in London Road North.

The Use Your Voice Lowestoft group members in the town centre. Picture: Use Your Voice Lowestoft/Chris Ellis (Image: Use Your Voice Lowestoft/Chris Ellis)

With archive films of Lowestoft from the 1920s showcased from 1pm, there will be information stalls, and a chance for people to imagine and sketch what they want the the town to look like.

A question and answer session on the Lowestoft flood barrier project will be held with Dr Hugh Ellis, director of policy at the TCPA, giving his perspective as an independent expert in climate and planning.

An evening show - Land of Promise - will see live music and words performed.

With the day’s events free to attend, tickets are limited for the evening performance of Land Of Promise - so book online.

Use Your Voice Lowestoft will be joining Waveney MP Peter Aldous at Westminster on April 25 to highlight the issues that coastal communities like Lowestoft face as sea levels rise and extreme weather events intensify.