Research warns 100 metres of Hemsby coast will be lost before 2100 without urgent action
High tides are causing large scale coastal erosion there - with 30 metres of seafront being lost to the waves in the last few months
Environmental researchers are warning 100 metres of land in the seaside village of Hemsby will be lost before the end of the century, unless urgent action is taken.
High tides are causing large scale coastal erosion there - with 30 metres of seafront being lost to the waves in the last few months alone.
5 homes have also been pulled down after being deemed unsafe by surveyors.
"Is this the end now?!"
Kevin Jordan lived on the 'The Marrams' road next to the sea for 14 years, but was moved out for his own safety in December:
"The electricity and the water goes off and you start thinking, is this the end now?! I'm sitting here looking at parts of my road right by my window that have totally gone and the rest is hanging and ready to fall.
"I've got nowhere else to go. My property has long been rendered as unsaleable and I don't have sufficient savings and there's no equity in this place. I'm retired and on a pension. I just can't go anywhere else."
"It's totally different now"
Marie Howlett has lived on the 'The Marrams' for three years:
"We had a nice road, where you could see the beach. The dunes are gone and people are moving, it's totally different now and I think Hemsby will be gone soon.
"My partner is very upset. I have never known a man to cry so much as he has. He thought we'd stay here forever but all this change has happened so quickly- it's crazy."
What's being done to support Hemsby?
A spokesperson for Great Yarmouth Borough Council said:
‘’Following further erosion of the dunes at Hemsby, council officers are at the area to monitor and assess the situation. As always, appropriate advice and assistance will be provided to those in the community who need help.’’
A spokesperson from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said:
"We know the devastating impact flooding and coastal erosion can have, including in Norfolk, which is why we have a long-term vision to better protect communities across England from flooding and coastal erosion.
"This includes doubling our investment in flood and coastal erosion schemes in England to £5.2bn between 2021 and 2027.
"We are also investing £36m in the Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme in a number of small of coastal areas at significant risk of coastal erosion, including in Norfolk, to look at how we transition and adapt to a changing climate."