People in Hemsby renew calls for village to be protected from coastal erosion
Members of County Hall are meeting today, renewing their calls for central government to help them protect Norfolk's rapidly crumbling coastline
Campaigners and local decision-makers in Hemsby tell us that the village needs urgent protection - so more people aren't forced out by coastal erosion.
Members of County Hall are meeting today, renewing their calls for central government to help them protect Norfolk's rapidly crumbling coastline.
It's after a report put together from work by the University of East Anglia and others shows over one thousand properties could be lost to erosion by 2105, in North Norfolk alone.
"To give our residents peace of mind in all of this"
Councillor James Bensley represents the East Flegg Division and is Chair of the Infrastructure and Development Select Committee:
"This coastal issue isn't going to go away and it's going to get worse if nothing is done, now. We're giving the Government all the information they need about what's happening, here. But they really need to get moving on and preparing scheme to help residents who are sleeping in the shadow of all of this.
"We're not asking for a giant sea-wall to be put up all around Norfolk, we know that's impossible.
"What we do want is to give our residents peace of mind in all of this. So they can live out their lives and the homes natural life on the coast, as there's so many different stories here.
"Did they really need a report to tell them that they need to lobby harder?"
Simon Measures is the Chair of 'Save Hemsby Coastline' group:
"Did they really need a report to tell them that they need to lobby harder for more funding from Central Government?
"We and most people who live on the coast has been saying this for a while. It's almost like a report comes out and there needs be action, suddenly.
"They give the example that this is the fastest eroding coastline in Northern Europe- which it is. But the Dutch take a completely different approach, they build up their land and protect it- throughout. But here, we have the approach of 'let's retreat'. But where are we going to retreat to?"
What's the Government said?
The Government say they're investing over ÂŁ5 billion into flood and coastal defences, across the country