People living on the East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire coast are being asked to help shape a new strategy to cope with coastal flooding and erosion.

The coastline from Flamborough Head in East Yorkshire to Gibraltar Point in Lincolnshire is to be the subject of a new shoreline management plan.

The draft plan outlines the risks posed by erosion and climate change to homes, coastal defences and wildlife habitats.

Public consultations are taking place until 5 February at various locations. (more…)

The speed of coastal erosion at Easton Bavents in Suffolk has shocked villagers who have been told more than three metres of land was lost to the sea in the last month.

Pictures taken by aerial photographer Mike Page show how much of the cliffs have disappeared over the last 13 months.

One villager, Paul England, said it was the fastest erosion he had ever seen.

Richard Daniel reports.

Story on the BBC News website

In October 2009 two homes on a piece of land called the Retreat at Easton Bavents, near Southold were just six metres from the clifftop.But the site of the homes is now teetering on the edge of the destruction.

In just the space of four weeks a large part of the land belonging to the England family has crumbled away because of erosion caused by strong northerly winds.

Glancing at the latest photograph it could be easily concluded that the two homes, a chalet and mobile home, have fallen victim to erosion and plummeted off the cliff.

But in fact the homes off Easton Lane have been destroyed by human hands as part of a landmark agreement to help homeowners cope with losing their properties due to the long running and untlitmatley futile battle with Mother Nature. (more…)

Environment minister Richard Benyon has promised to help resolve the issue of whether a sea wall can be built to protect a Lancashire hamlet.

Conservative MP David Morris told the Commons that residents of Sunderland Point were being blocked from building the wall by government agencies.

He said a wall would help to reduce coastal erosion by 1m (3ft) a year.

Mr Benyon said he would talk to Natural England and the Environment Agency “as a matter of urgency”. (more…)

An MP concerned about erosion of part of the Lancashire coastline is raising the issue in the Commons later.

David Morris, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, said 1m (about 3ft) of coast at Sunderland Point was lost each year.

He said several homes needed more protection from the elements, and local residents should be allowed to help build a sea wall. (more…)

SOUTH Devon MP Anne Marie Morris has secured a debate in the House of Commons seeking assurances on the future of the South Devon coastal railway line.

The Newton Abbot MP will use the time under the spotlight to discuss the importance of investing in Brunel’s famed Exeter to Plymouth railway line.

She wants to preserve the line, which runs through Starcross, Dawlish Warren, Dawlish, Teignmouth and Newton Abbot and carries all rail traffic into South Devon and on to Plymouth and Cornwall. (more…)

THEY say an Englishman’s home is his castle. And an elderly couple from East Yorkshire are proving there is truth in the old adage by refusing to abandon their home to coastal erosion.

Land on the coast at Aldbrough between Hornsea and Withernsea is now so unstable that East Riding Council has moved a concrete barrier 10 metres inland to prevent vehicles falling over the cliff.

But the move has left Edith and Brian Grantham trapped in their bungalow in Camp Lane. Their only access is through a privately-owned caravan park, whose owner does not want them to use it. The council has offered alternative accommodation but they prefer to stay put.

Mrs Grantham, 76, said: “We don’t want to be moved, we want to stay in our own little homestead. We are comfortable, we’ve got a lovely home and I’m not shifting. The alternative is to move to a council house but I don’t want to live in a council house.”

Paul Allison, general manager at Aldbrough Leisure Park, said he could only give customers access to the park because of insurance and health and safety reasons, and he had offered to sell the council the dividing land.

A council spokesman said: “The council is continuing to investigate the feasibility of several alternative access options for affected residents of Campsite Road.”

Story by Simon Bristow in the Yorkshire Post