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Hemsby cliff-top homes 'perilously close' to edge | Hemsby cliff-top homes 'perilously close' to edge |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Residents of 10 seaside chalets "perilously close" to the edge of cliffs are being evacuated as high winds and waves threaten their homes. | |
Norfolk Police said earlier that six of the properties at Hemsby had "a very good chance" of going into the sea. | |
In 2013, tidal storms saw three homes in the village washed away. | In 2013, tidal storms saw three homes in the village washed away. |
Hemsby Lifeboat warned high tides due on Saturday evening and easterly 48mph (77km/h) gusts could do similar damage. | |
Norfolk Police and the parish council have been advising people to keep away from the beach and the dunes. | Norfolk Police and the parish council have been advising people to keep away from the beach and the dunes. |
Officers had earlier warned residents of the 10 occupied properties, telling them to pack a bag in case they had to leave at short notice. | |
Lifeboat crew members have been going door-to-door, warning them to leave. | |
A village hall has been prepared for residents to spend the night in. | |
There were Force Eight gales (39-46mph, 62-74km/h) at Hemsby on Saturday afternoon, said BBC Weather presenter Elizabeth Rizzini. | |
Sgt Ben Millican of Norfolk Police said 13 properties in total were at risk, 10 of them occupied. | |
"Six of them have got a very good chance of going into the sea if the weather conditions stay as they are with the high tides coming back in the evening," he said. | "Six of them have got a very good chance of going into the sea if the weather conditions stay as they are with the high tides coming back in the evening," he said. |
At the scene: BBC reporter Robby West | |
A UK Power Networks team is disconnecting power to the homes and lifeboat crews are helping people evacuate. | |
They believe five homes are at risk, but the harsh winds are making everyone's jobs harder. | |
The Hemsby Lifeboat team have told me waves are breaking halfway up the dune, causing sand to be washed away. | |
They believe it's a matter of "when" for some of the properties, not "if". | |
Maurice Broom, who lives in one of the threatened properties, said: "I had 90 metres between me and the sea when I first came here only two years ago, and now I've only got nine feet." | Maurice Broom, who lives in one of the threatened properties, said: "I had 90 metres between me and the sea when I first came here only two years ago, and now I've only got nine feet." |
But he said he intended to stay overnight to look after his pets. | But he said he intended to stay overnight to look after his pets. |
In the 2013 tidal surge, seven homes were badly damaged, including three that fell into the sea. | In the 2013 tidal surge, seven homes were badly damaged, including three that fell into the sea. |
In 2014 villagers put in a £2.3m bid to the government for flood defences but failed to secure funding after being told by the Coastal Communities Fund that other applications "offered us a stronger fit". | In 2014 villagers put in a £2.3m bid to the government for flood defences but failed to secure funding after being told by the Coastal Communities Fund that other applications "offered us a stronger fit". |
But by June 2015 partial sea defences of honeycombed-shaped concrete blocks were put into the dunes after residents raised £70,000, with Norfolk County Council providing a further £50,000. | But by June 2015 partial sea defences of honeycombed-shaped concrete blocks were put into the dunes after residents raised £70,000, with Norfolk County Council providing a further £50,000. |