Three chalets in Pakefield to be demolished this weekend, due to costal erosion

The decision has been made by their owners- following the damage cause by recent storms to the seafront

Author: Tom ClabonPublished 18th Nov 2023

Three properties in North Suffolk are going to be demolished over today and tomorrow- after being deemed no longer safe to live in, due to costal erosion.

The decision to tear down the chalets on the seafront in Pakefield has been made by their owners- following the damage cause by recent storms to the seafront.

"There are no properties remaining on the cliff-edge"

Karen Thomas is from Coastal Partnership East- who manage the shoreline there:

"The remaining properties in that area are now set quite well back from the cliff, on the other side of the road.

"So there are no properties remaining on the cliff-edge, if you like. So we hope that for the rest of the winter that people's properties will be safe".

"Benacre to the south is travelling up the coast and by our estimates will arrive in front of Pakefield in between 10 and 15 years time.

"This would provide a very significant beach in-front of the properties again. If this were to happen you wouldn't need defences there".

"We knew this wouldn't solve the problem"

"We have been talking to community down there for the last couple of years about potential demolition of properties. With the rock scheme, we have tried to give them as much time down there, as possible.

"We appreciate that people have invested in these properties and for some of them, they'd had them in their family for a long time.

"In 2022 East Suffolk funded a short-term rock solution to put in there, to slow the erosion down. We knew this wouldn't solve the problem, but we hoped it would help the situation"

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