Coastal Erosion on the Norfolk Coast: The Case of Happisburgh
Winter storms during December 2005 have left a row of houses at
Happisburgh, North Norfolk dangerously close to the cliff edge,
in this small village which has already seen a loss of 26 homes,
claimed by the sea over the last 15 years. Storms in December,
saw further erosion of the cliffs, Cliff House Guest House and
Tea Room, owned by a Miss Wrightson, is one of a row of four
properties that are now under threat from the sea. Where once,
other properties separated the guest house from the sea, now
only 1 metre separates the sea from the garage of the Guest
house. House owners are unable to insure their properties and
they will receive no compensation from the government for loss
of their properties, when they finally fall victim to the
encroaching sea. Revetments used to provide some protection for
the cliffs, but following a storm in 1990 when 300m of revetment
was destroyed, the sea was able to start eroding the land
beyond. The situation has go