Hemsby erosion campaigners deliver petition to Number 10

For more than a decade, erosion along the village's coastline has claimed 25 homes, repeatedly cut safe access to the beach and left the future of the resort in peril.

While campaigners were successful in obtaining planning permission for a 1.5km rock berm to safeguard the village for 20 years, government funding was rejected in October as not enough homes were deemed to be at risk.

Five homes were demolished at the end of 2023 after the access road to The Marrams collapsed. Picture - Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley)This morning, members of Save Hemsby Coastline (SHC), Hemsby Independent Lifeboat and a former Marrams resident Kevin Jordan hand-delivered the petition containing almost 20,000 signatures to the Prime Minister's home.

Great Yarmouth MP Sir Brandon Lewis was also expected to be present on the day. However, Sir Brandon informed the campaigners he was unable to make it.

SHC chairman Simon Measures said: "We feel amazingly let down by our MP's absence.

"It shows to us that we're just not worthwhile to him.

"We're now hoping to have a sensible conversation with the Environment Agency about changing that criteria.

"All we can do now is to keep our fingers crossed that a change is made."

Sir Brandon said: I offered to assist Save Hemsby Coastline with presenting their petition to Number 10, but at no point was it confirmed that I would attend with them.

"Unfortunately, the date they chose clashed with an existing diary commitment. SHC have stated that my office picked this date,  but this is categorically untrue, SHC requested 29 January as the date to present the petition.

The covering letter that Save Hemsby Coastline are presenting alongside their petition does not reflect the fact that much of the affected area is in private ownership and those owners have not yet stepped up to the plate.

Local taxpayers cannot be solely responsible for funding a scheme on private land.”

L-R: Alan Jones, Simon Measures, Genny Measures, Chris Batten, Daniel Hurd and Kevin Jordan outside Number 10. Picture - Hemsby Independent Lifeboat (Image: Hemsby Independent Lifeboat)

For Hemsby Independent Lifeboat coxswain Daniel Hurd and his crew, a swift response safeguarding the village's status for the next two decades is vital for saving more lives.

"Homes on The Marrams are still in danger, and the houses behind now need protecting too," Mr Hurd said.

Hemsby Independent Lifeboat coxswain Daniel Hurd and helmsman Chris Batten on Downing Street. Picture - Hemsby Independent Lifeboat (Image: Hemsby Independent Lifeboat)

"Not only that, but the Lifeboat Station itself is at serious risk.

"We continue to save lives on the Norfolk Broads and offshore. If that service is lost and we can't find a place to go, everyone will lose a vital service which saves lives.

"We are all volunteers doing this for the future of our village. This government need to realise the hours people have put into this. 

"It's about time they stepped up now and get this sorted once and for all."