BBC: “Coastal village living on the edge “
Thousands of homes along England’s coastline are under threat of destruction because of rising sea levels and poorly maintained defences.
Campaigners in Happisburgh, Norfolk – one of the villages at most immediate risk – are now demanding more help for their community.
When Di Wrightson bought her Happisburgh guest house in 1981 with business partner Jill Morris it seemed an idyllic place to live.
Visitors came from far and wide to enjoy the sea views and cream teas served in her garden.
But today Ms Wrightson’s home lies just metres from the cliff edge and will soon be lost all together.
A concrete base, where a garage once stood, is now all that separates her back lawn from the beach below.
“We’re having a tsunami of our own, only it’s in slow motion,” the retired teacher said.
“It wasn’t until the bungalows started collapsing that we found that no one was doing anything and it all started to fall apart.
Read the full story by Tom Warren on the BBC website
The piece quotes a very appropriate comment by Malcolm Kerby: “We are climate change migrants – we’re the first wave and we get no assistance whatsoever.”
I can understand the position that not everyone can be defended, even if I don’t personally agree with it. My opinion though is that there is a moral duty to assist those directly affected.
Since a financial justification is being used for the decision to abandon sections of coast, there is a strong argument for financial compensation to those affected by the decision.
I fear that Happisburgh is being used as a test-case, and that meeting moral obligations by agreeing to compensate is being resisted as it would be seen as setting a precedent for a process that is likely to be extended around the majority of the country’s coastline.
Comment by jaydublu — September 14, 2008 @ 9:36 am