Wrecking teams to move in as another Hemsby home is lost to erosion

More homes along the Marrams, Hemsby are in danger of falling into the sea.Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2018)

A wrecking team is set to move in on Saturday to tear down a property - overhanging the cliff by more than a metre - before it falls and becomes a safety hazard.

Following last month’s storm, building control surveyors and environmental services officers have continued to monitor eight properties in The Marrams, deemed to be at risk of sliding down the near vertical dunes.

As the battle with the elements continued, number 197 The Marrams is now at imminent risk of falling onto the beach and is being dismantled for safety reasons.

It brings the total number of homes lost to erosion this season to six.

Homes were demolished following severe erosion in The Marrams, Hemsby. Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2018)

Work will be undertaken by contractor Anglian Demolition and Asbestos which last month demolished five other clifftop properties at Hemsby.

The contractor plans to set up on Friday afternoon and start demolition on Saturday morning.

However, work might need to be undertaken earlier if things take a turn for the worse.

Cllr Carl Smith, the deputy council leader, said: “Firstly I would like to again express our sympathies for all the affected residents and property owners, including the owner of this property.

Work has started on the demolition of the homes that are now overhanging the cliff on The Marrams, Hemsby. Picture: NICK BUTCHER (Image: Archant © 2018)

“Number 197 is now in a dangerous condition, overhanging the cliff by about a metre in places, and needs to be demolished to ensure public safety, which is the top priority.

“This is still a changing situation.

“We continue to update and advise the owners of all affected properties, and to monitor the situation closely with respect to the remaining properties at risk, whose owners are well aware of the sad potential of demolition at relatively short notice should there be any significant further loss of cliff material.

“The public are reminded that the area to the east of The Marrams road and the beach below the cliffs remains dangerous.

“People are also reminded that the land to the east of The Marrams, where the eight remaining homes are and five now-demolished properties were, is private.

“People should therefore not enter this land to get a closer view of the edge of the cliffs.”