Residents of Hemsby, a village on the Norfolk coast, are living in fear as coastal erosion rapidly destroys their homes. Since 2018, the rate of erosion has accelerated dramatically, with the infamous Beast From The East storm claiming 75 feet of coastline in just eight days. Seven homes fell into the sea, and five others were evacuated. Now, more properties are at imminent risk of collapse.
Single mother Cristie Morris, 49, has owned her three-bedroom house for 24 years. She spent £23,000 on it in 2000, but it is now worthless. She told Mail Online: "It's terrifying, heartbreaking. Having your house fall into the sea is a grieving process." She no longer has a front garden, and the access road collapsed in November 2023. She and her neighbour watched a large chunk of road fall into the water, hugging each other and crying.
Simon Measures, 52, and his wife Geneveive, 56, bought their home for £120,000 in cash in 2020, assuming it would last their lifetime. However, erosion has accelerated dramatically, and Simon feels "extreme anger" that defences could have prevented this. During violent storms, the house judders, waking them at night. They cannot move out as they have invested all their money in the property.
In March 2023, secondary school supply teacher Sue was forced out of her home after a fierce storm left it just six metres from the cliff edge. Her three-bedroom house, purchased in 2020, was demolished. She now lives in rented accommodation. Retiree Kevin Jordan, 70, had his clifftop bungalow demolished in December 2023. He was told it would be safe for a century when he bought it for £85,000 in 2009. He now lives in emergency accommodation and is taking the Government to court with Friends of the Earth, alleging failure to protect vulnerable communities.
The Government told locals in October 2023 that there was insufficient funding for the estimated £20 million cost of rock defences. The Save Hemsby Coastline group is petitioning for funding, arguing that the village contributes £80 million to tourism. Founder Lorna Bevan said: "I'm flabbergasted, disgusted, appalled, ashamed - you name it - by the Government."
