HISTORIC landmarks could disappear off the map in years to come due to coastal erosion.

The 39 “at risk” sites outlined in the English Heritage North West Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey include a pre-historic site at Eskmeals and the Ravenglass Roman fort. St John’s Church at Waberthwaite, the motte and bailey remains of the medieval Aldingham castle and quarries at Baycliff and Greenodd are also said to be at risk in the long-term.

The remains of Aldingham castle, believed to date back to the 12th Century, sit on the cliffs overlooking the sea. Robert Wheatley, of Baycliff and chairman of Aldingham’s St Cuthbert’s Church restoration committee, is well aware of the coastal erosion at that point. He said: “All along the coastline where the motted castle was, the erosion is quite bad and along by the church and just after it is terrible. (more…)

WALNEY stalwarts have dismissed claims the island has lost 100 metres of its coastline in 30 years as “rubbish”.

John Murphy has dedicated his life to studying local nature and history.

While he does not deny that parts of Walney, Piel Island and other areas along the shoreline are suffering from erosion, he refuses to believe Walney has lost 100 metres of its coastline in the last 30 years. (more…)

A coastal community gathered at the weekend to discuss how best to move its erosion-threatened village hall further inland.

The exhibition at Trimingham, near Cromer, on Saturday was the beginning of one of the first projects to be funded by a share of north Norfolk’s £3m “pathfinder” cash.

The money, part of a nationwide pot of £11m, was awarded to the district council late last year by the government to tackle the effects of coastal change. (more…)

Hopton villagers campaigning to save their homes from the North Sea have formed an action group to battle for money for defences – and plan to “go for the jugular”.

Brian Hardisty, chairman of the new Hopton Coastal Action Group, said the nine-member committee wanted the government to maintain rather than abandon sea defences and had formed arguments to support its position.

He added that clifftop housing worth an estimated £5m plus two holiday villages were at stake, and said he was unconvinced by statis-tics predicting the rate of erosion which were already well out, concrete defences near Corton having failed within three years and not the predicted 15-20 years. (more…)

A village and more than 1,000 acres of land would be lost to the sea if plans laid out in a blueprint for tackling erosion in Suffolk are accepted.

The Environment Agency’s Shoreline Management Plan calls for the continued defence of major towns and villages from flooding and coastal erosion.

But it also says over the next 30 to 40 years the village of Covehithe will be surrendered to the sea. (more…)

Buy-to-let schemes for cliff-top houses and the potential relocation of businesses are among the ideas being put forward as part of a multi-million pound project to protect communities living around the Norfolk and Suffolk coast.

East of England minister Barbara Follett joined coastal councillors and environmental experts at the second Coastal Initiative Conference yesterday to find out about the projects which are being funded by nearly £5m of government grants.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) awarded money at the end of last year to local authorities in North Norfolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney to push forward with projects to find out how communities can adapt to the impacts of erosion and coastal change. (more…)

A SMALL community has told of its determination to protect its homes against coastal erosion after learning it is set to be abandoned to the ravages of the North Sea.

Residents in the tiny hamlet of Covehithe, just north of Southwold, face an uncertain future if Suffolk’s Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) is given the green light.

The scheme has been drawn up to suggest how flood and erosion risk should be tackled along the coast from Lowestoft Ness to Languard Point in Felixstowe.

At Covehithe it recommends a policy of “no active intervention” for the next century – meaning that within 30 to 40 years the entire hamlet, including homes, the historic 15th century church and important conservation areas, will be lost. (more…)

BUSINESSES and landowners are among those being given a say in the future of The Wash coastline between Wolferton Creek and South Hunstanton.

The newly formed key stakeholders sub-group is a partnership set up between the Environment Agency and West Norfolk Council to represent the interests of the local community and tourism.

These are the most likely parties to be affected by future changes. (more…)

A COASTAL community has vowed to continue its fight to have long-term sea defences installed on its shore after the Environment Agency refused to fund the project.

Bootle beach is currently categorised under the government’s Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) as “no active intervention”.

That would mean the beach and nearby Eskmeals gun range road would be allowed to wash away.

An emergency meeting was held with villagers, Copeland Borough Council, Cumbria County Council and the Environment Agency in a bid to get the government to change the policy and defend the beach. (more…)

CAMPAIGNERS are making waves in their battle to protect Hopton’s seaside community from erosion.

Clifftop resident Brian Hardisty says officials have played down the effect of the outer harbour on the shrinking sands and is seeking answers, possibly by making a Freedom of Information request to see “secret” documents.

Mr Hardisty wants to set up an independent coastal erosion group to challenge the Shoreline Management Plan which is being revised this year. (more…)