Work to protect clifftop home halted by council

Work started yesterday (Tuesday, September 28) to install some 80 blocks at the base of the sandy dunes at Hemsby.

While work on the main defences at Hemsby has been halted, contractors are using emergency powers to sit the blocks at the base of the dune as a temporary measure. (Image: Liz Coates)

The 2.2 tonne interlocking concrete blocks were due to arrive in 12 lorry loads with engineers preparing to spend two weeks on the sands putting them in position.

Instead, they have been handed a "cease and desist" order by Great Yarmouth Borough Council while it makes sure all the proper permissions are in place.

Two of around 80 interlocking concrete blocks paid for privately by a homeowner. (Image: Liz Coates)

Phil Woolston, who is overseeing the operation, said his client had been working on the project for at least eight months and liaising with the authorities including the landowner The Watling Trust, and coastal management bodies.

Blocks being unloaded in the car park at Hemsby. Contractors had been expected to be on site for two weeks, but are now having to pack up as Great Yarmouth Borough Council dives into the paperwork thought to have been already in place. (Image: Liz Coates)

The order was imposed at around 4pm on Tuesday - too late to divert some lorries already scheduled to leave today at 2am.

With half the blocks already on the beach a decision was made to use emergency powers to sit them at the foot of the dune to protect a septic tank which was vulnerable to collapse.

Flashback: View of the homes on the Marrams in Hemsby a month on from the tidal surge, January 2014. Picture: James Bass (Image: Archant Norfolk © 2014)

Under the arrangements Mr Woolston said it was understood his client could use planning permission already obtained for the hexagonal blocks to extend his scheme along the stretch at the base of The Marrams.

The DIY defences are being paid for privately, the interruption likely to cost thousands, Mr Woolston added.

He said the council had been notified the works were taking place.

Flashback: Homes in The Marrams teetering on the edge in 2018. (Image: Archant © 2018)

Under the scheme one line of rocks will be buried, with another placed on top to break the force of the sea.

Further along homeowner Lance Martin has also made efforts to protect his clifftop home, first pulling it back from the edge after surging seas tore a chunk of land away, and later installing his own rock barrier.

Hemsby is on the frontline in the battle against erosion and is hoping to secure funding for a rock-berm to bring temporary relief.

The exposed stretch made headlines around the world in 2018 when around a dozen chalets were torn down before they fell in the sea.

Borough councillor James Bensly is hopeful the issue can be sorted soon and that coast protection work can resume. (Image: James Bensly)

James Bensly, borough councillor for Hemsby, said he hoped the issue could be sorted quickly so work could resume.

"I encourage anyone to look after their own home and try and defend it like Lance has done, but we just have to make sure we have all the paperwork and ensure it does not have a negative effect anywhere else.

"I really hope this is just a pause and hopefully they can proceed as soon as possible."

In a statement, Great Yarmouth Borough Council said: “The council served a Temporary Stop Notice, which prohibits any works being continued for 28 days, to allow our planning team time to assess the proposed works and ensure all the appropriate processes and agreements are in place.

“We are in communication with the person responsible for the works and hope to have the matter resolved soon.”