New focus on erosion ‘hotspots’ as council eyes bid for more funding

A recent report found rates of erosion had more than doubled on some stretches of Holderness, including at Rolston, south of Hornsea, Aldbrough and Hollym near Withernsea. But whether it is part of the normal pattern, or a sign of a longer-term change linked with rising sea-levels has not yet been established.

Beverely and Holderness MP Graham Stuart said: “East Riding Council has found an acceleration in coastal erosion in certain areas over the last two years so I have asked them to do more work so we can better understand the areas most at risk of heightened erosion, and thus the risk to homes, businesses and caravan parks. If we do identify particular hotspots, we need to provide help to those affected and that may require additional funding or flexibility in the rules of existing programmes.”

Coun Jane Evison, who attended a meeting with East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight, and fellow councillor Jonathan Owen, said there was no point going to Ministers without evidence. She said the majority of the £1.2m Government funding intended for vulnerable communities had been spent, adding: “The rest is spoken for.”