Hemsby man who lost home to erosion features on podcast

Kevin Jordan lost his Hemsby Marrams home of 14 years on December 10. Days before, the partial collapse of the access road had caused structural damage to his property and four other doomed homes.

This week, Mr Jordan appeared on the climate charity podcast, Carbon Coby, explaining the toll the event has taken on him.

Kevin Jordan, pictured in late 2023, in front of his former home on the Hemsby Marrams. Picture - Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley)"I became alarmed," Mr Jordan said.

"There was a storm surge before, then the Beast from the East. We were on the front line.

"Then all of a sudden, you're getting storm after storm after storm."

Following the demolition of five homes on the Marrams, more of the dune in front of the Lifeboat shed has been washed away. Picture - James Weeds (Image: James Weeds)Mr Jordan said following recurring storm surges in the early parts of last year, he "became a firm believer in the reality of climate change".

"We were getting sufficiently bad sea weather in July last year," he said. "And now you're thinking, 'what's going on here?'"

When Mr Jordan moved to his former clifftop home in 2009, he was aware the area was threatened with erosion. However, he was told where his home stood would have been safe for around 80 years.

Kevin Jordan's home being demolished in December. Picture - Daniel Hickey (Image: Daniel Hickey)After Mr Jordan was given seven days to evacuate, he relocated to his current residence in Martham. Initially, the ground floor flat was meant to be temporary.

However, after Mr Jordan declined a council property in Caister, he was able to remain in Martham where he would be closer to his friends and former colleagues.

The podcast, which was recorded earlier this month, also features Save Hemsby Coastline chairman Simon Measures, who discussed the charity's ongoing efforts to help change legislation to enable the village better access to funding sea defences.

READ MORE: TWENTY homes lost in Hemsby's ten years of heartbreak

Five homes were demolished at the end of 2023 after the access road to The Marrams collapsed. Picture - Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley)Before losing his home, Mr Jordan filed a legal challenge at the High Court, requesting a judicial review of the government’s National Adaptation Programme (NAP), claiming his and others’ lives are at risk as the climate crisis worsens.

The case is ongoing.

To listen to the podcast, visit www.carboncopy.eco/podcast