Families living in the coastal village of Hemsby, Norfolk, have been forced to abandon their homes after large chunks of land collapsed into the sea. Decades of erosion have left properties teetering on the cliff edge, with many residents selling up and moving away.
Storm Goretti accelerates losses
In January, Storm Goretti swept across the coast, forcing residents to flee as buildings were left dangerously close to the edge. The coastline has been eroding for about 30 years, and since 2013, 36 properties have been either lost or demolished. Properties deemed structurally unsound are flattened under coastal management rules.
Residents speak of despair
David Martin, 72, a former lorry driver, said he expects to move within three years. He told the Daily Mail: "You live in the house, you don't want to decorate it, because you never know when it's going to be knocked down. You're just waiting to die, as it were, really. You've got nothing left." He accused the local council of declaring "war" on the community through inaction and of offering no incentive to leave what were meant to be "forever" homes. "I have had a stroke and two heart attacks," he said. "What do I do when they knock my house down? Where are we going to go? We're not getting any money or anything." Mr Martin added he will likely "die going into the sea" and said, "I didn't buy this [house] to get kicked out like this."
Widower fears another winter
Ian Lawes, 62, a widower whose wife died 18 months ago, said he does not know if he will have another winter in the home they shared. "I'm massively emotional," he said. "As it is now, I'm going to have to buy another house ... I'm going to get no help because I'm single, I'm working and I have some savings and a pension - all of which are going to get wiped out." He also fears being billed between £20,000 and £30,000 for the "privilege" of having his home demolished. Mr Lawes bought the property in 2010 after surveyors told him it would take 100 years for the coastline to reach his home; instead, it took about five.
Council response and erosion rate
A spokesperson for Great Yarmouth Borough Council said it cannot currently legally offer residents compensation when a property is lost to coastal erosion. "It was an extremely difficult winter for our coastline with an unprecedented rate of coastal erosion. The dunes in Hemsby have seen about 50% of the erosion predicted for the entirety of the next 30 years. More than 10 metres of land has been lost in just over 12 months." The spokesperson added that council staff continue to liaise with residents to ensure safety and offer support, including drop-in sessions. "The coastal management team also continues to monitor the erosion closely, but precisely predicting the rate of erosion, climate change and the increasing number of named storms is impossible." The council acknowledged that those affected were "enduring an extremely difficult situation" and said it was assisting with "alternative housing solutions." Some affected residents chose not to take up housing advice, but the council continues to work with them. "Doing nothing is simply not an option along one of the fastest eroding coastlines in northern Europe, and there will inevitably be further loss of land. How we plan for that and provide information about the options available to people remains the primary focus." The council, along with the local MP, continues to press the Government for changes to legislation and funding to better support those impacted by coastal erosion, which affects many communities across the UK.
