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REGIONAL STUDIES-NORTH SEA GAS AND THE LINCOLNSHIRE COAST

30th September 1966
Page 154
Page 154, 30th September 1966 — REGIONAL STUDIES-NORTH SEA GAS AND THE LINCOLNSHIRE COAST
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

r HE economic finds of natural gas in the North Sea will have L a number of challenging repercussions. First, the country ill have three bases of energy—coal, oil and natural gas—while nly a decade ago coal had a virtual monopoly. Secondly, this atural gas will be the country's lowest-cost energy source since is estimated that gas could be available to industry located on Le coast for a price of only 2d. a therm. This would be at .a price leaper than coal from the • most economical pits and cheaper Lan oil delivered to a factory within a stone's throw of a refinery. If industry is to exploit these low costs, the growth of the oastal zone between the Humber and Suffolk as an industrial :gion is inevitable in the next 20 years. The most likely area as focus would appear to be on the Lincolnshire coast immediately orth of the Wash. Various reclamation schemes for the Wash ave been mooted in the last few years and these plans will now 3 given a push towards reality. A barrage across the mouth of Le Wash is inseparable from any reclamation plan and could be Le means of transport routes crossing the wide estuary. Much F the Norfolk and Suffolk coasts will probably be preserved on nenity grounds, although there is a likelihood of an industrial mgregation on the coast between Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. The "pace setters" of heavier industry are likely to be chemicals,

iron and steel and possibly cement and if these do become established to the north of the Wash, growth in South Humberside and around Norwich could be blended together into major industrial regions. The Lincolnshire and North Norfolk areas are currently suffering from fairly intensive emigration, a process quickened by the decline of the tourist industry with its main centres at Skegness and Cromer. Natural gas will provide a reawakening for tin area and a new industrial region would provide much needed relief of pressure on the London and West Midlands regions.

But developments, on past experience, are in danger of being piecemeal and an overall scheme is vitally necessary for the region. In such a scheme facilities for road transport must be regarded as an early priority in planning. The proposed motorway network leaves this area blank. A skeleton of new major roads will be essential with a backbone motorway across the Wash barrage and a direct link with the West Midlands. Bus operators in the area are currently struggling with the familiar problems of a rural area plus the peaking difficulties of a short tourist season. A great opportunity awaits them—provided they are brought in at an early planning stage.

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