Fourteen clifftop homes in Hemsby face ‘imminent’ collapse

Owners of 14 cliff-top homes have been warned that their properties are in danger of collapsing onto the beach and must be demolished.

Recent bad weather has eroded more than 10 meters (32 ft) of land at Hemsby in Norfolk, leaving the risk of further serious damage.

People in Marrams and Fakes Road have been told not to stay in coastal homes, especially on Thursday and at weekend nights, due to the risk of falling off the cliff.

A spokesman for Great Yarmouth Borough Council said: “It is extremely traumatic for those affected, but coastal experts say there is a real risk of collapse.”

“With more than ten meters of land lost to erosion due to recent bad weather and the risk of further damage from Storm Goretti later this week, some properties in Hemsby are at risk of beach collapse,” they added.

“As the coastal management authority, Great Yarmouth Borough Council has written and is speaking to the owners of 14 properties along Marrams and Fakes Road to advise them of the options available and explain the need for safe demolition.

“We have been in close contact with people affected by erosion in Hemsby for some time but with recent storms and further damage predicted. Storm Goretti This means that some properties are now in an even more precarious situation.

“Making sure residents and the public are safe is vital, so we are working closely with property owners to explain the risks, offer support and advice where necessary and detail the options available to people at this very difficult time.”

The council added that staff from the housing team were in the village to offer support and advice.

Before this latest announcement, more than 36 homes had been lost at sea or destroyed in Hemsby since 2013; eight of these were in December and early January.

“Our coastline is one of the fastest eroding areas in Northern Europe and climate change inevitably means there will be further land loss,” the council said. he added.

“How we plan for this and provide people with appropriate support and information about the options available is hugely important.”

The council also urged people to stay away from the dune surface and pay attention to warning signs in the area.

It was stated that part of Hemsby beach was closed for security reasons.