Coastal village Hemsby 'abandoned' by government

As the village prepares for predicted tidal surges brought about by Storm Babet, it was revealed that plans for a £15m rock berm will not be funded in a joint statement by local authorities and Great Yarmouth's MP.

After years of campaigning, Hemsby was granted licence for a £15m 1.3km-long rock berm in March.

Hemsby has been told it will not receive funding for erosion defences. Picture - James Weeds (Image: James Weeds)However last night in a joint statement from Great Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC), Coastal Partnership East (the council’s coastal management team), Great Yarmouth MP Sir Brandon Lewis, and Norfolk County Council, the village was told the cost for a sea defence had risen "significantly higher" and it was not eligible for government funding.

The joint statement added that while authorities had lobbied on behalf of the village's sea defence, schemes of this cost and scale would only attract government funding where hundreds of homes are at risk.

In light of the funding blow, a stern warning was issued that people face losing their homes to erosion in the immediate future.

Save Hemsby Coastline campaigner Ian Brennan said the mood among those living on the at-risk Marrams was "an equal mix of despondency and anger".

Ian Brennan. Picture - Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley)"We've been told we're getting no money and we're going to be abandoned," he said.

"The government's funding criteria is wrong and they're ignoring the tourist industry and how much it puts into the region. 

"It's unfair that other parts of the country, and even Norfolk, are getting sea defences, and we have to sit back and smile while they get it.

"Of course other places deserve to be defended from erosion, but we deserve it just as much as anywhere else. We should all be defended."

The slipway to Hemsby Gap was inaccessible during high tides on the weekend. Picture - HILB (Image: HILB)In preparation for the coming storm, Mr Brennan has been delivering leaflets with contact numbers and information for the event of an evacuation.

"Some people are very angry they've been abandoned," he said.

"Other people have been ground down enough, and they think it's inevitable. Everyone is nervous about the weekend and what it will bring.

"Every time this happens, we've got to be lucky. And my fingers are crossed."

Save Hemsby Coastline will continue to fight for funding, said Mr Brennan.

Hemsby Independent Lifeboat helmsman Chris Batten. Picture - Newsquest (Image: Archant Norfolk © 2015)Last night crew from Hemsby Independent Lifeboat relocated some of their own blocks behind the last remaining property on the north side of the Marrams.

"It was felt our objective was to help the public before ourselves," said helmsman Chris Batten.

"We're going to continue doing what we've always done. If the dunes in front of our station breach, we're all on standby to evacuate. 

"We will remain in service, both offshore and on the Broads, until we possibly can."

Hemsby Independent Lifeboat crew will be standing by throughout Friday, Saturday and Sunday to assist with any possible evacuations.

FLASHBACK: Homes along the Marrams were demolished in 2018 following severe erosion. Picture - Newsquest (Image: Archant © 2018)At a meeting last night, the crew discussed the possibility of relocating their equipment to other parts of the village should the dunes in front of the station breach.

Mr Batten said the lifeboat was "very disappointed" with yesterday's funding announcement.

"But sadly, this has not come as a surprise to us," he said.

"We were expecting the announcement as there had been overtures of it over the past few months, with talks of inflation and the cost of materials."

Mr Batten said that without any protection of the Gap area and access to the beach during the expected surges, it seems unlikely there will be a summer season for the village's businesses next year.