Storm batters beach huts... now floods are on the way
BEACH huts lie smashed on a shore after the cliff where they stood took a battering from Storm Nelson, leaving owners around £25,000 out of pocket.
Other timber structures at the site teeter precariously above a 10ft drop where it is only a matter of time before they go the same way.
Risk
Devastated owners of beach huts with a total of about £500,000 at Hordle Cliff in Milford-on-Sea, Hants, have been told the local authority can do nothing to stop coastal erosion.
And now floods are feared as the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for parts of the South West and South Wales for a soggy end to the Easter bank holiday weekend.
The worst weather was expected in Portsmouth, Southampton, Bristol and Bath. Up to 30mm is expected to fall in some areas over a short period of time, and the Met Office urged people to check if their property is at risk of flooding.
Warning of potential travel disruption, it urged passengers to plan journeys in advance and encouraged drivers to reduce their speed.
Met Office forecaster Liam Eslick said the downpours would bring a “risk of localised flooding” in areas including Somerset, Bristol and Dorset throughout the night because of sensitive river levels.
Flood warnings were put in place across Dorset and elsewhere on Friday after Storm Nelson battered the south coast with rain and high winds.
Mr Eslick said: “Being the bank holiday weekend, people are travelling around at this time, so we’d recommend checking road coverage if people are driving or any bus and train timetables to see if there are any cancellations.”
He said rain was forecast to move north after midnight, meaning showers are likely across central England this morning.
Toppled
The RAC and transport analysis company Inrix said 2.01 million leisure journeys will be made by car today, with the lengthiest delays expected between 10 am and noon.
The north of England and Scotland should have a more pleasant Easter Monday, with drier conditions and some sunshine, though with a risk of isolated showers.
After the beach huts were toppled at Hordle Cliff, New Forest District Council said it sympathised with the affected owners but claimed there was nothing it could do.
A council spokesman said: “The council has no statutory duty to undertake and deliver flood and coastal erosion risk management measures at any coastal site.
“However, we do have every sympathy with beach hut owners who have experienced impacts at this very challenging coastal area.”
The spokesman added: “Our advice to anyone owning or buying a beach hut on, or close to, the coast is that they should consider the risk and undertake their own due diligence before investing in any purchase.
“As there are no defences at this location, the council has not undertaken any flood and coastal erosion risk management activities there.”