Cliff fall on coast leaves home perched terrifyingly close to the edge
Terrifying pictures show how a seaside home has been left teetering on the edge of a cliff, leaving it just inches away from destruction.
Residents of Hemsby, Norfolk have long faced questions about their village’s future, with nearly 100 homes at risk of being destroyed due to coastal erosion.
The problem has persisted for years, but locals claim the issue is now at a crisis point- with all hopes for a reprieve now seemingly scrapped by the government.
An initial proposal for sea defences, which was granted planning permission by the council, had risen from £15m to about £20m due to inflation.
This prompted Sir Brandon Lewis, Conservative MP for Great Yarmouth, to claim earlier this week that Hemsby did not qualify for ‘sufficient government funding’ to allow plans for the sea defences to progress.
Locals are now desperately seeking help to save the once scenic seaside village from becoming a shadow of its former self.
Residents say they now feared more homes will be lost – citing the recent bad weather that has battered their exposed coastline.
And with winter ahead there is an increasing likelihood that even more damage could be done.
Ian Brennan, 63, the chairman of Save Hemsby Coastline, has been campaigning for 10 years to ensure the future of those living in the danger zone.
He said: ‘Hemsby is suffering.
‘Seeing what has happened and knowing if nothing is done it is going to happen to you must be a terrifying prospect.
‘The authorities know what needs to be done and it’s only political will and the inaction of the landowners and the absence of funding that makes their loss pretty inevitable.
‘The last study showed that 92 homes are at risk if nothing is done. How much does Hemsby need to bleed before something is done?’
Lance Martin, 65, lost 40 metres of his back garden to erosion in 2018.
He is trying to remain positive despite the dire situation on his doorstep.
The retiree said: ‘The overwhelming feeling amongst the neighbours is one of despair. I keep a smile on my face.
‘I haven’t broken down yet. I crack on with it – there’s nobody to blame, you just have to accept it and move on.’
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