Thorpeness homeowner fears losing property to coastal erosion

A holiday homeowner in a village where homes are being torn down due to coastal erosion said she often awoke at night in fear hers could be next.

Demolition teams arrived at 22 North End Avenue in Thorpeness on Monday ready to knock down what will be the fourth property in the Suffolk village this winter.

Large parts of the coastline have been lost to erosion, which was accelerated this month following bad weather.

Teresa Lane owns a property in Old Homes Road in the oldest part of the village and said she felt “sick” watching what was happening to her neighbours’ homes.

“Also, the feeling of powerlessness. We know we can do nothing for the action of the sea, but the fear here for flooding and the risks associated are really real.”

Asked if she was worried about losing her own property, she added: “Very much.

“I hadn’t until probably six months ago, but now we are waking up in the middle of the night in fear of that happening.

“With the erosion in sight here and with houses being demolished around us I think it is a real possibility if action isn’t taken rapidly.”

Richard Bennett owns a property at the Headlands on Admirals Walk and said no-one had predicted the recent erosion that had happened since Christmas.

“It’s a huge surprise because we were expecting this to evolve over the next 10 years,” he explained.

“So from our point of view this is 10 years ahead of what we were expecting.”

He added: “The storms we’re having now have brought in a big swell and the sandbanks that used to protect Thorpeness have moved around and no-one can predict that process.

“We have a weather and climate challenge that is unpredictable and it’s become more severe.

“I don’t think anybody can be blamed for that personally.”

The Warren, The Chantry and Cheneys, also all on North End Avenue, have all been demolished this winter due to the erosion, while The Red House was taken down in 2022.

East Suffolk Council, the lead authority, initially believed at the end of last year the erosion had been slowing, but the recent bad weather this month meant more of the coastline had been destroyed.

The council believes nine other properties are at risk.

On Monday, a spokesperson said its primary focus was safety and urged people to stay away from the cliffs and beach.

They added: “Whilst there are no viable long-term solutions to stop the erosion at Thorpeness, we continue to work around the clock with residents, the Environment Agency and the local MP to tackle this developing situation and to consider any potential short-term solutions which may slow the erosion.”

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, Suffolk Coastal MP, visited the village over the weekend with the Environment Agency to speak with affected residents, but warned other members of the public to stay away.

She told BBC Radio Suffolk’s Wayne Bavin that “lots of people” were travelling to the village to see the eroded cliffs.

“I appreciate there’s a lot of interest in this; these are families that are going through an incredibly hard time, but it’s also just not safe on the coast,” said the Labour MP.

“If you can stay away from the area it would help and it would give the families the dignity and the space they need to process what is going on.”

The Environment Agency said its role was to give advice and guidance, but it was aware of the effect the erosion was having on the community.