PART of the seawall that spans the boundary of Corton and Hopton on Sea collapsed during the weekend.This was not unexpected and occurred in a section where public access is already prohibited.

PART of the seawall that spans the boundary of Corton and Hopton on Sea collapsed during the weekend.

This was not unexpected and occurred in a section where public access is already prohibited.

The collapse was anticipated and occurred over a part of the shoreline on the Waveney District and Great Yarmouth Borough Council borders, which is cordoned off by barriers and warning signs.

Holes in a 15m section of sheet piled foundations enabled material to be washed out from below the concrete slabs, which then fell into the void.

Paul Patterson, Principal Service Manager (Coast Protection and Land Drainage) said: “As it is probable that the collapse will extend over a greater part of the seawall and also affect the cliff face, the council has reinforced the barriers at each end of the `Waveney managed' seawall and has also taken steps to prevent people from walking on the cliff top above the failure site.

“The council continues to monitor the situation and is in the process of approaching both Norfolk and Suffolk County Council Rights of Way officers to respond to the impact of the collapse upon coastal access for the public.”

Adjacent landowners and the Coastal Manager of Great Yarmouth Borough Council have been made aware of the collapse and of Waveney District Council's response.

The management policy for coastal defences to the north of Corton village, including the part that has failed, is 'No Active Intervention.' This policy accepts that defences will not be renewed following failure and in accordance with these guidelines, there will be no works carried out to repair the collapse.

The policy of 'No Active Intervention' originates from the Kelling to Lowestoft Ness Shoreline Management Plan [SMP] 2006 that was adopted by the Council in 2007.

This policy is based on the premise that the value of assets protected by the defences in this area is relatively low and that further investment in defence is not viable.