Retired Hemsby man moved from 'unsafe home' says he's forever humbled by local help
Five homes have been demolished on The Marrams in the village of Hemsby over the last few days
A 70 year old man from Norfolk who had to quickly move home, after it was deemed unsafe by surveyors, says he'll forever be humbled by the help of local people.
Five homes have been demolished on The Marrams in the village of Hemsby over the last few days, after coastal erosion left them perilously close to the cliff-edge.
"I'm continuing with the fight"
Kevin Jordan has lived in the Norfolk village for 14 years:
"The people of Hemsby were excellent - and I'm very humbled by all those who came on Friday. They basically formed a human-chain up that 300 metre long and two foot wide foot-path. It was unbelievable.
"I realise that my battle was lost- it was inevitable when you looked at where my place was on relation to the cliff edge. But I'm continuing with the fight to get a permanent sea-defence in Hemsby. I'm a trustee with Save Hemsby Coastline and I will remain so.
"I'm not an emotional person, but that left me with a lump"
"I was down at the lifeboat station the other day and a number of those dumper-trucks went by and I recognised bits of my home. I'm not an emotional person, but that left me with a lump.
"Forget Christmas - I'm not thinking about that at the moment. I'm trying to find things and unpack things. They could move me at anytime. The council say they're trying to find me permanent accommodation, in the form of a bungalow in the northern villages here."
What does the council say?
Carl Smith, leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, previously said: "While we have known for some considerable time that more properties were at risk from erosion, this remains an extremely difficult time for those people who are losing their homes.
"Our thoughts are with those affected and our staff have been working hard to provide support and welfare for those who need it.
"Unfortunately, continued erosion on this stretch of coastline is inevitable and we are working hard with our partners and other agencies to work out how we best adapt to the changing shape of our coast in the coming years."
The council said officers have been working closely with residents to offer support and housing options, and staff have been sourcing appropriate accommodation for those who need it.
What does the Environment Agency say?
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: "Government flood defence grant-in-aid is available to Great Yarmouth Borough Council, as the risk management authority, to fund or part-fund flood and coast erosion risk management schemes.
"To apply for funding, risk management authorities need to submit a business case to the Environment Agency showing how the project will work, that it will last, that it is able to be delivered and is environmentally acceptable."