Residents forced to leave homes in Hemsby for good due to intense coastal erosion
Some homes are now just 5 metres away from a sheer drop - after 200 metres of the seafront road collapsed in November
Residents are leaving their seafront homes in Hemsby for the last time - after intense coastal erosion means it's now unsafe for many to live there.
Some homes are now just 5 metres away from a sheer drop, after 200 metres of the seafront road collapsed in November.
"I'm not liking any of it"
Marie Howlett lives with her partner and daughter and has called 'The Marrams' road home for three years.
Now, she'll soon be moving to Caister: "Everything we have got is in this bungalow. Basically, we have just got to take what the council gives us and that's it. I'm not liking any of it.
"We had a nice road and you used to be able to see the beach from our home, but now you can't, the dunes are gone and people are leaving. I think this part of Hemsby will be all gone before too long."
"You're putting your home into boxes"
Kevin Jordan moved to The Marrams 14 years ago, but he'll soon be moving to a flat in nearby Martham.
He''s not looking forward to leaving Hemsby: "It was where I moved my life and I enjoyed it. But now after being in a detached place like this, I'm going into a one bedroom flat in a built up area and I'm frankly dreading it.
"You're putting your home into boxes and you're making rash decisions as to what you decide to take with you and put into the bin. It's cripplingly sad."
"Safety of the public is our paramount"
Councillor Carl Smith, leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: "The welfare of residents and safety of the public is our paramount responsibility. Our teams have been checking on people to see if they require assistance with shopping, medicines, pets etc.
"If anyone is vulnerable we will do all we can in terms of targeted interventions. And it is vital that people realise it is not safe to use the road, either on foot or by car.’
’As a community we have to consider how we best adapt to the erosion in what is one of Europe’s most dynamic stretches of coastline.
"Unfortunately, this is a complex process because the road, the land, the homes, and services such as water and utilities are privately owned and we need to work with all parties involved to engineer the best solutions we can for those affected.’’