A coastwatch manager has expressed concerns that a stretch of the Norfolk coast could be left without lookout towers.

In June, Winterton Coast Watch applied to Great Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC) to reinstate the watch station at a new location in the village, at the northern end of the carpark on Beach Road.

This followed the station being removed from its former location due to coastal erosion in March.

The new station would be a single cabin unit on a wheeled trailer, with four drop down legs for stability.

It would be portable in case it needed to be moved again in the future, the application states.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Winterton coastwatch station being moved into storage.Winterton coastwatch station being moved into storage. (Image: Archant 2022)

Coastwatch manager Roger Rolph said he met with GYBC planning officers at the end of October.

The proposed site for the tower is in the Winterton-Horsey Dunes Special Area of Conservation and the Winterton-Horsey Dunes Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Mr Rolph said: "We've been told that the ecology of the area has to be considered before we can do anything.

"Flora and fauna seem to be more important than people's lives. And they are still getting erosion there anyway."

There was once a lookout tower at North Denes, while the station currently operating at Caister has a temporary licence.

"If that closes down, there will be no coastwatch station between Cart Gap and Gorleston, which is worrying us because these are the main Norfolk holiday areas," Mr Rolph said.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: The Coastwatch tower at Winterton which has been dismantled and is now looking for a new home.The Coastwatch tower at Winterton which has been dismantled and is now looking for a new home. (Image: Archant)

A decision on the plans is expected by this Friday (November 18).

"It could well be turned down. It is beginning to bother us. We could lose it," Mr Rolph said.

The watch tower would be manned from 9am to 4pm, seven days a week, 365 days of the year.

Winterton Parish Council is supporting the application and said that coastal erosion needs to be considered as the council would like this to be in place long term.

Natural England said the plan could have a "significant" impact on the local environment and that a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) must be carried out.

Councillor James Bensley, who is supporting the application, has stated: "This lifesaving emergency service and its team are needed in the village as soon as possible."