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'Coastal barriers should buy us a little more time'

Katy Prickettand
Richard Daniel,in Thorpeness
News imageJamie Niblock/BBC James Crowhurst standing on the beach at Thorpeness. He has short light brown hair and is squinting slightly in the sun, wearing a maroon fleece over a maroon shirt. Behind him is a wooden barrier and behind that sheet metal piling, installed in a zig zag pattern. Rising up from it is a shallow leafy cliff. Jamie Niblock/BBC
James Crowhurst says Thorpeness is a very special village for residents and for visitors

Residents of a village where 11 houses have been demolished this winter because of coastal erosion have installed more privately-funded defences.

Thorpeness, a purpose-built holiday village on the Suffolk coast, has seen significant land loss and in March several residents partly paid for new rock bags to be installed.

Now, a group has also clubbed together to raise £400,000 for sheet piling, which resident James Crowhurst said "should buy us a little bit more time".

East Suffolk Council said it was "supportive of works undertaken to install defences within property boundaries under permitted development".

News imageJohn Fairhall/BBC A close-up of sheet metal barriers on the left after they have been installed where a cliff meets a beach. They are rusty brown coloured and have been installed in a zig-zag shape. Beyond them on the right is the beach, with some blue fishing net, and piles of more sheet metal barriers and beyond that the sea and sky.John Fairhall/BBC
The latest sea defences are made of sheet piling and have been installed within the boundaries of affected properties
News imageJohn Fairhall/BBC A modern flat-roofed white house on a grassy cliff in Thorpeness, which runs down to a pebbly beach. Where the cliff meets the beach is a metal fence made up of a row of rust-coloured interlocking sheets of metal. There is a yellow digger on the beach at the bottom left.John Fairhall/BBC
They are not classed as sea defences because they are designed to retain private gardens and prevent them falling on the beach

Villagers began finding their own solutions after being told "hard" sea defences were too expensive and not allowed.

The sheet piling has been installed on private land outside Drake House, the Coast Guards and Seamark.

Crowhurst added: "These sheet piles have been driven into the ground and the purpose is to try to slow up the advance of the sea and protect the banks in front of these houses.

"They all come under permitted development, luckily, so it's all been done within the curtilage of these three seafront houses so permission was a lot easier than other places that have had difficulties getting it."

He added the defences were "not unsightly" and hoped the whole village would benefit from them.

News imageJohn Fairhall/BBC A close-up of a black net holding rocks as part of a sea defences. Beyond it is a shallow sandy cliff and above that a block of flats painted in vibrant colours. John Fairhall/BBC
Rock bags have already been installed on part of the beach at Thorpeness, funded by residents and the district council

Previously, homeowners and the wider community clubbed together to pay for and install £280,000 worth of rock bags.

The district council covered the rest of the cost, which came to about £600,000.

In the meantime, villagers are holding regular meetings with their MP "to try to find a more permanent solution to protect what is a very special villages for residents and for visitors", added Crowhurst.

News imageJohn Fairhall/BBC An aerial shot of the coast at Thorpeness, with a beach and the sea to the left and a row of houses and a colourful block of flats on the left. Beyond it is a former church, other houses. There is also a large tree-lined lake and heath land up to the horizon.John Fairhall/BBC
Another privately-funded project to stabilise the beach is due to start shortly, but residents are still seeking a permanent long-term solution

A council spokesperson said: "These particular works are privately funded and are situated within the boundaries of the property owners.

"East Suffolk Council is supportive of works undertaken to install defences within property boundaries under permitted development, such as the works at Seamark, Drake House and Coastguard Cottages.

"These works fall outside of East Suffolk Council's coastal management jurisdiction.

"East Suffolk Council would consider any proposals for private schemes, including those that involve sheet piling, in line with all statutory consenting and permissions required, including planning permission and the shoreline management plan policy."

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