Hastings and Rye landslip concerns raised with Minister during local meeting

Residents from Hastings and Rye have raised concerns about the impact of landslips in the area to Emma Hardy MP, the UK’s Minister for Water and Flooding.

The meeting, convened by Helena Dollimore MP, Labour and Co-operative Member of Parliament for Hastings, Rye and the villages, brought together locals and experts to discuss the growing issues caused by coastal erosion in Hastings and escarpments in Rye.

Three members of the Hydraulic Activity Stabilisation Training Enterprise (Haste), a Hastings-based residents’ group, attended and spoke about their efforts to mitigate landslides in Hastings and St Leonards. The group has begun installing sensors to monitor cliff systems following incidents in the area.

Colonel Anthony Kimber PhD, a landslip expert and Rye resident, shared his detailed knowledge of the similar challenges faced inland.

During the meeting, residents outlined the difficulties they face in accessing mortgages and home insurance, particularly for properties located within landslip risk zones.

Helena Dollimore MP pushed for the Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, of which she is a member, to hold inquiries into the rising frequency and severity of weather-related and environmental events in Hastings, Rye and nearby villages.

Emma Hardy MP had already appeared before the Committee, where Dollimore raised questions about what steps are being taken across Government to protect affected residents.

Speaking after the meeting, Helena Dollimore MP said:

“It was so important to highlight to the Minister the problems we have with landslips in Hastings, Rye and villages. Landslips are only going to increase with climate change and we have to be prepared.”

Ben Ramsden, Co-ordinator at Haste, described the group’s efforts to address the issue:

"It was great to meet the Minister.”

“We've spent two years analysing historical data, building partnerships, and planning carefully.”

"Now we're putting sensors in the ground that will act as an early warning system – helping us understand where the risks are and figure out how to bring back stability to our cliff."

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