Vanishing Yorkshire coastline prompts call for more cash

ROAD TO NOWHERE: The coastal road between Skipsea and Ulrome which had collapsed into the North Sea in 2012. PIC: PA

Sir Greg Knight will lobby Government Ministers this week to visit the fast-deteriorating coastline to “see for themselves” the extent of the problem.

While a Pathfinder grant from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has already helped a number of seaside residents relocate, East Riding of Yorkshire Council has been pressing for a dedicated fund so that it can continue to manage the effects.

In 2012, heavy rain in summer was blamed for the cracking and weakening of cliff edges along the eastern flank, which borders the North Sea. The rate of erosion soared to three times faster than the previous year.

“There might be a case for further funding being allocated,” Sir Greg told The Yorkshire Post. “It depends on the problem, but if it accelerates then I’m happy to go to ministers to ask them to look at this again to make more available.

“If a pot of money is put aside based on an assumption, and the situation changes or is different to what was predicted, the Government should be prepared to revisit it.”

The North Sea has been devouring the fields, roads and even villages near the coast for hundreds of years and its inexorable advance has become a fact of life for residents. It was first mentioned in the House of Commons in 1911.

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Over the next century, more than 200 homes are predicted to disappear over the cliff edges between Flamborough Head, near Bridlington, and Spurn Point, 45 miles further south.

People living in the Skipsea area are expecting about 20 homes in their village alone to disappear in the next few years. They have had to get used to an ever-changing cliff-top landscape littered with abruptly ending roads, doomed buildings and the half-remnants of once-loved gardens.

Most of the homeowners were made aware of the risk of coastal erosion when they bought their properties, which have plunged in value, with many now deemed worthless.

Sir Greg said: “When people purchased their homes it was at a cheaper price and they were made aware of the risks, but I think it’s happening slightly quicker than people expected. If there are constituents who feel they weren’t made fully aware of the risk I would look into their case for compensation.”

The Government has made money available for sea defences, but only for the more populated areas such as Bridlington and Hornsea and the most cost-effective solution for smaller villages and towns is to allow the inevitable to happen.

Coun Jane Evison, of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “There is no money for defences and we have accepted that. We’ve shown, for the first time, that coastal change can be managed efficiently and competently. We’ve helped people come to terms with it.

“But what we are continuing to ask the Government for is a dedicated fund so that we can bid for more help where it is needed, not just for residents but for businesses.

“We’re not asking for handouts, but for us to continue to be able to manage the impact.”