‘Our homes are falling into the sea – and nobody is paying attention’

5 comments

1. The historic coastal town of Happisburgh is clinging to an eroding cliff edge – and locals at risk of losing everything question why they are offered so little support

   Happisburgh in North Norfolk boasts plenty of history: more than a dozen listed buildings, the [earliest evidence of human footprints outside Africa](https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/the-oldest-human-footprints-in-europe.html), and one of the UK’s oldest active lighthouses.

   Yet the heritage-rich community of about 1,000 people, located some 20 miles north-east of Norwich, also perches atop one of Europe’s fastest-eroding coastlines.

   Dozens of homes have already crumbled into the sea over the last few decades, with two more at imminent risk set to be demolished in the coming months.

   Residents say a lack of Government attention and funding has left them feeling all but forgotten.

   Meanwhile, new risk projections are set to expand the known scale of coastal erosion, with more of the UK’s seaside dwellers braced for impact.

   # ‘Nothing will save my house – but we could save others’

   Bryony Nierop-Reading has already [lost one home](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-63822899) to the North Sea and she will soon lose another.

   The 79-year-old’s house sits about 15m (49ft) from the edge of a vanishing cliff at what is now the end of Happisburgh’s [Beach Road](https://inews.co.uk/news/long-reads/coastal-erosion-norfolk-happisburgh-climate-change-retirement-examined-368574?ico=in-line_link), which residents say has already lost over twice as much ground as that in recent decades.

   When she has just five metres separating her from the coastline, Ms Nierop-Reading will be forced to demolish her home and move into a small static caravan at the top of [what’s left of her garden](https://inews.co.uk/news/cliff-edge-garden-yorkshire-homeowner-cottage-falling-sea-2326795?ico=in-line_link). The situation has left her and many of her neighours along the clifftop feeling largely abandoned.

   “The council are doing what they can to help with the costs of my demolition, which is rare,” she said. “Although I’m personally benefiting from some government funding now, it amounts to fiddling while Rome burns – and there’s no guarantee that any of my poor neighbors up the road will get any help at all.”

2. “Nobody is paying attention”,

   They’re getting government funding and costs.

   I can’t see a rock defence doing much…

3. It will cost more to save them then the houses are worth

4. I’m from coastal Norfolk myself. The sea cannot be stopped from taking what it wants. Stalled, sure, but never stopped.

5. Another mile and my house becomes a beach front property.

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