Council supports homeowners as high tides bring erosion risk

Following the most recent erosion in the area at the end of February, experts have said the high tides and winds over the next two days mean a number homes in The Marrams could be left in a precarious condition.

High tide is expected at 8.30pm tonight and at 10.30am tomorrow with easterly winds expected to gust at up to 35mph.

The council's housing and community teams are today liaising with those residents most likely to be affected to explain the risks and arrange suitable temporary accommodation for them.

Council staff, who will be on site for the duration of the high tides risk period, are also looking at how best to arrange storage and provide help to remove belongings from any homes that require it.

Jane Beck, Great Yarmouth Borough Council's head of property and asset management, said: ''This is obviously a very worrying time for people who might be affected and we want to do everything we possibly can to ensure the council provides the best possible support and help. The safety and security of our residents remains our number one priority.

''Coastal erosion in Hemsby is a significant concern and we continue to work hard with the owners of homes at risk, our partner agencies and central Government to manage the situation as sensitively and safely as we can.''

With the potential for debris from damaged homes sliding on to the beach, planning and building control experts from the council are now considering if and how quickly any properties might need to be demolished.

Survey work is taking place over the next two days and homeowners are in dialogue with the council to look at all available options.

A spokesperson for Great Yarmouth Borough Council's coastal management team, Coastal Partnership East, said: ''To try to mitigate the issue of coastal erosion, we are working on developing a short-term, interim option for Hemsby of granite rock in front of dunes that are eroding, providing urgent support to the main access road for 62 properties.

''This short-term option is similar to works completed to the frontage at Pakefield in December 2022. Funding secured for the urgent works will be beneficial to the longer-term aim of constructing a more significant rock berm as material can be re-used and re-purposed in any future works.

''Planning and other licences and permissions that would be required are currently being reviewed as part of the development of the interim works.''

Meanwhile, the council continues to engage with the landowner of the Marrams, Geoffrey Watling (Norwich) Ltd, in seeking its support in addressing the erosion challenges in Hemsby.