Villagers to demand No 10 acts to stop homes falling into the sea

HUNDREDS of residents in a seaside village who say they have been ‘abandoned’ and denied cash for coastal defences are demanding the Prime Minister takes action to save their homes.

Villagers in Hemsby, Norfolk, have been forced to watch their dwellings topple into the sea in recent months.

The Save Hemsby Coastline (SHC) campaign group is due to hand in a 17,000-signature petition to 10 Downing Street today calling for action.

SHC also claims the constituency’s MP, Sir Brandon Lewis, has “abandoned” them in their quest to obtain between £15million and £20million for nearly a mile of coastal defences.

Ian Brennan, the group’s treasurer, said: “The people of Hemsby are in danger of becoming environmental refugees unless something is done to save the village … losing your home is lifealtering.”

Residents learned in October that though planning permission and licences had been granted in 2023 for a sea berm – a granite defence – no money would be allocated to pay for it as its cost has risen with inflation and the village does not meet criteria that look mainly at residential properties for “sufficient government funding”.

SHC argues that the village and resort contributes £80million per year to Norfolk’s economy and is asking the Government to take this into account.

Simon Measures, SHC’S chairman, said: “Brandon Lewis and the Government have abandoned us to the North Sea with no plan B and no funding.

“We said to Sir Brandon’s office: ‘Pick a date that Mr Lewis can attend as we want him to be there given his support in our campaign’.“his office picked the date for us and now we find out he’s got a prior engagement.

“I think it’s a big excuse – the petition is nothing to do with him as we’ve had to go through his parliamentary assistant to get this to Number 10.

“The last few years we’ve rarely heard from him but before that he did actively help – it’s tough.”

Sir Brandon Lewis said: “The situation in Hemsby is extremely difficult.

“I have supported Save Hemsby Coastline since their inception, including fundraising for them.

“I have actively supported Save Hemsby Coastline in arranging the delivery of this petition to Number 10.

“Due to a prior commitment in Norfolk I am unable to attend the presentation, but remain keen to engage with them or any other community group.”

SHC said more than 120 homes could be lost over two decades and the village had lost 10 in the past 12 months.

Lance Martin, a former soldier, stopped his bungalow falling into the sea twice before admitting defeat in November after having been assured it would be safe for some 40 years. He said: “The overwhelming feeling amongst neighbours is one of despair.”