TWENTY homes lost in Hemsby's ten years of heartbreak

On Thursday, December 5 2013, the old lifeboat shed was destroyed and seven bungalows on The Marrams were claimed by the North Sea.

A decade later, more than a dozen homes have been lost, with a further five being evacuated after the partial collapse of the last remaining access road on The Marrams in the latest bout of severe erosion.

A letter received by a Marrams resident on Thursday informing them they had seven days to decide whether they will give their home for the council to demolish or demolish it themselves. Picture - Submitted (Image: Submitted)Five homes received Section 77 notices last Thursday, giving people seven days to either sign over their property for the council to demolish or to arrange demolition themselves.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council said it continues to work with people on The Marrams.

Two parts of The Marrams road collapsed on Friday, November 24, leaving several homes without access. Picture - Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley)A Great Yarmouth Borough Council spokesman said: "Ahead of the demolition of a small number of properties in The Marrams, Great Yarmouth Borough Council staff continue to work closely with residents who are affected by continued erosion in Hemsby at this extremely difficult time.
 
"Our housing options team is in regular contact with people to ensure any accommodation needs are met and to assist with any support required.

"And the council continues to liaise with the landowner, Watlings (Norwich) Ltd and other agencies as the community continues to deal with the effects of erosion."

ON THE EDGE: The view from a Marrams residence following the partial road collapse. Picture - Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley)John Weston, on behalf of The Marrams' landowner Watlings (Norwich) Ltd, said: "The recent erosion proved much more sudden and severe than anyone had expected, sadly resulting in the loss of a large section of the roadway and putting a number of chalets at risk. 

"The company is working with the borough council and other agencies to provide alternative access wherever this is possible."

The manhole cover to an Anglian Water waste pipe. The water firm said it has no current plans to relocate it. Picture - James Weeds (Image: James Weeds)Following the partial road collapse two weeks ago, people in the village have raised concerns about the future safety of a nearby waste pipe.

Located in front of the only pathway granting access to the doomed houses on the southern end of The Marrams, the sewer pipe lays metres from the edge of the crumbling clifftop.

However, Anglian Water said there are no current plans to relocate the pipe as it is not near the planned demolition site.

The Anglian Water spokesperson added: "If the erosion becomes an issue for our assets in this area, we will look to install a new line or relocate it."

Hemsby's decade of devastation

Seven homes were lost following the tidal surge in December 2013, making Hemsby the worst affected place across the borough.

TORN APART: Seven homes were lost following the tidal surge of December 2013. Great Yarmouth Mercury, Friday, December 13, 2013. Picture - Newsquest Archives (Image: Newsquest Archives)Since then, the village has been repeatedly devastated by erosion, with a further seven homes destroyed following the Beast from the East in March 2018.

FLASHBACK: A Marrams home demolished following the Beast from the East. Picture - Newsquest Archives (Image: Archant Norfolk 2018)Following more storms in 2023 - including an unprecedented surge in the summer - six homes on the northern Marrams were evacuated and later destroyed.

With five further homes pegged for demolition following the recent road collapse, more Marrams homes are set to be lost.

A home in the north side of The Marrams being demolished in March 2023. Picture - Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley)In an attempt to safeguard dozens of homes and the resort's estimated annual income of £80m from summertime trade, Save Hemsby Coastline was established at the end of 2013.

The charity has long campaigned for a rock berm providing two decades of protection for the area's coastline. Licence for the project was granted in March, but at a cost of around £20m, funding was denied in October.

It is estimated Hemsby has lost 300m of its coastline since the 1970s.

Hemsby coastline has seen drastic changes over the past thirty years. Pictured: Hemsby Gap in 2003 and in 2023. Picture - Mike Page (Image: Mike Page)