I would like to wish you all the very best for 2021 in these extraordinary times,

The flooding in the run up to Christmas was a reminder that, in the middle of this awful pandemic, climate change is still a big threat to our future, and this was underlined last week with the announcement that last year was as hot as 2016, the hottest on record, with global temperatures 1.25 degrees above the long-term average.

Can I take this opportunity to remind you of the Broadland Futures Initiative which is looking at the long-term flood risks to the Broads and local communities. Key partners include the Environment Agency, Natural England, county and district councils and farmers and landowners. We are planning a virtual exhibition, an online survey (from 18 January), as well as a series of “virtual village halls” public events in February and March to engage with local residents on this most difficult of questions. The dates for the “virtual village halls” will be advertised on the website nearer the date, and the links to the virtual exhibition and online survey will be available on the website on 18 January.

I wish you all the best for the coming weeks.

Kind regards

John

John Packman

Chief Executive