Hemsby campaigner 'upset' by 'rushed' coastal erosion plans
In December 2023, five properties had to be demolished due to the risk of them collapsing
The chair of a group fighting coastal erosion in Hemsby says he upset and annoyed by so-called 'rushed' local plans to help.
A £1.6 million plan to rehome 30 households at risk of coastal erosion there will be discussed by local decision-makers tomorrow.
"It seems like nothing positive is happening"
Simon Measures lives on 'The Marrams' and is from Save Hemsby Coastline:
"We want details, details and more details. Without this the council will be generating another costly and wasteful PR stunt.
"It seems like nothing positive is happening at the moment here. The general feeling is that the Council is trying to find a way to clear 'The Marrams' the road closest to the sea in Hemsby before devolution officially comes in.
"The headline figure is not even close to anything that the public may or may not eventually see come out of whatever this scheme becomes.
"Looking at the official figures for the fund behind this scheme- it seems that most of it has been allocated away on things like new members of staff, new drone repairs and addition planning costs".
What's being proposed in more detail:
The village is at the forefront of the battle against erosion along Norfolk’s coast, with many properties expected to become unsafe in the coming years.
Up to 30 homes in high risk areas in the village could be demolished with the aim of eventually replacing them with new housing built on farmland.
The project would work through the authority procuring land further away from the eroding cliffs before undertaking the necessary surveys and negotiations to secure planning permission.
This will result in the land increasing in value, which, if sold, would help GYBC recover the costs.
The authority may also choose to develop the site, offering further opportunity to reinvest in similar coastal adaptation schemes.
Officers say this would provide a sustainable investment model for dealing with the coastal erosion threat.
Next week, cabinet members at the Conservative-controlled council will be asked to approve the initial £1.6m budget to bring the project into fruition, which will utilise Resilient Coasts funding from the Environment Agency.
In a report, officers said: “The aim is for the very first time to give people at high-risk of erosion, choices through financial support, whilst addressing coastal erosion impacts and accommodating coastal adaptation.”
Carl Smith, leader of the council, said the move would allow the council to act “creatively” to support the community of Hemsby, which has been told new sea defences would be unaffordable.
He said: “As everyone is aware, our coast is on the frontline of erosion and the effects of climate change. To adapt to these changes, we are determined to find solutions which best help the people affected.
“This funding would provide us with a unique opportunity to test and realise meaningful adaptation in Hemsby, including financially supporting and safely relocating residents at very high risk of coastal erosion.”
Councillors will meet to discuss the project tomorrow.
You can read the full release from Great Yarmouth Borough Council here.
Background
In December 2023, five properties had to be demolished due to the risk of them collapsing. With several more properties are expected to be lost by 2055.
It is estimated that Hemsby has lost 300m of its coastline since the 1970s.
Currently, homeowners are unable to claim compensation for the loss of private property to coastal erosion.