Latest news with #Coastwise
ITV News
23-07-2025
- General
- ITV News
Mass grave with 119 sailors' bodies may have to be moved due to erosion risk on crumbling coastline
The bodies of hundreds of people buried in a churchyard – including more than 100 shipwrecked sailors in a mass grave – may have to be moved to stop them falling into the sea. Officials believe they may have to exhume remains from the grounds of Happisburgh's St Mary the Virgin church in Norfolk, as coastal erosion has left just 80 metres of land between the church and the retreating cliff edge. At the current rate of coastal erosion, this means the cemetery could be lost to the sea in less than 20 years. The rector, The Rev Coryn Stanforth, said the next steps must be taken sensitively. "This is a really stressful time for the people who live locally and for those who've got loved ones buried in the churchyard here," she said. "As a church, we're trying to offer as much support to people as possible at what is a really difficult time for them." Buried in the Norfolk churchyard is the grave of 119 sailors who were on HMS Invincible headed for Nelson's fleet in March 1801, when it ran into difficulties near Happisburgh Sands. Some 400 sailors perished in one of Britain's worst maritime disasters. North Norfolk District Council is now working with the government, the local community and the Diocese of Norwich to find solutions. The authorities are working with the government-backed Coastwise scheme, which aims to prepare coastal communities threatened by erosion. It has commissioned a report to investigate the relocation of bodies from cemeteries and graveyards at risk of being lost to the sea, with Happisburgh a test case, to establish how such a large-scale relocation might be possible. "The problem here is that the sea is getting higher owing to global warming," said councillor Harry Blathwayt of North Norfolk District Council. "Erosion is accelerating because of global warming and we need to make plans so we're planning ahead for the whole country and hopefully people will be able to know that we are taking steps that we'll save their loved ones for the future." The fate facing the 15th-century church and graveyard has been raised during meetings with villagers and the Diocese of Norwich, which has responsibility for the site. As part of the talks, parishioners are considering decommissioning the graveyard so no more burials can take place there. Officials would want to avoid the fate of Dunwich in Suffolk, where erosion led to skeletons sticking out of the dunes after plots were washed away by the sea in the 1920s. The entire Suffolk town and its eight churches were lost to the sea.
Daily Mirror
23-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Spanish hotspot in chaos as popular beaches risk 'vanishing for good'
One of Spain's most popular cities - which attracted a record-breaking 11.7 million tourists last year - has issued a stark warning after authorities confirm a nearby beach risks disappearing A Spanish city loved by Brits has sparked concern that some of its popular beaches risk disappearing forever. Last year, a staggering 11.7 million tourists flocked to the sunny hotspot of Barcelona, marking a five per cent spike compared to 2023. Drawn in by its Gaudí architecture, trendy cocktail bars, cheap booze and ubiquitous history - the city also boasts a number of nearby beaches. However, the future of these golden sands - many of which are man-made - is in dire jeopardy, and could soon completely vanish. The warning comes following storms and rising levels, attributed to climate change, that are eroding many of the artificial beaches and 'swallowing' swathes of coastline every year. According to AP, man-made beaches erode much faster compared to naturally-formed coastlines. This is evident in Montgat, located around 30 minutes from central Barcelona, which locals say is at serious risk. Ana García rents out a beach shack in Montgat every summer, spending two months of the year there with her daughter. It's a beloved tradition she now fears is numbered, as Montgat's coastline continues to erode. "Clearly, this is worrying," she told the publication. "Because it's increasing more and more, and shows no signs of stopping. Our coexistence with the sea here is in danger." Authorities have reportedly responded to the devastating situation by replacing lost sand and constructing breakwaters (coastal structures designed to lessen the impact of waves on shorelines and harbours). However, Ramon Torra, manager of Barcelona's Metropolitan Area, says this isn't enough. "What we must do first isn't just replenish the sand, but rather stop the loss of it," he said. "In the case of the 'Maresme' region here, we are talking about structures such as breakwaters because they confine the beach." Coastal erosion isn't just a looming threat for Spain, and is already having severe effects in the UK. Take the seaside village of Happisburgh in Norfolk, for example, which has witnessed homes collapse and roads disappear due to a continually retreating cliff line. As previously reported, more than 250 metres of coastline in the area has been eroded since the 1990s. If it continues at this rapid rate, Happisburgh will be fully submerged underwater in just 30 years. A five-year project backed by £15 million of government funding aims to help residents impacted by the worsening threat. Coastwise - which started in 2022 and will run to 2027 - is currently working with residents and businesses to 'prepare and plan for the long-term'. You can read more about the initiative's efforts here.
Daily Mirror
02-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
UK seaside village vanishing into the sea and the £15m plan to tackle it
A five-year project with £15m of government funding aims to help residents impacted by the worsening threat of coastal erosion - as experts predict one seaside village will soon vanish A tiny UK seaside village famed for its rugged cliffs and sugar-like sand is in grave danger of vanishing into the sea. Since the 1990s, more than 250 metres of coastline at Happisburgh, in Norfolk, has been eroded. If it continues at this alarming rate, the village as it is now will be underwater water in just 30 years. It may sound like something out of an apocalypse film, but for residents quite literally living life on the edge - it's a terrifying reality. "What's happening in places like Happisburgh isn't just a prediction - it's a process that's already underway," explains climate analyst Dr Ian Richards. "Homes have collapsed, roads have disappeared and the cliff line is retreating faster than anyone expected." Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, a North Norfolk District Council spokesperson explained how the authority has been working tirelessly to protect the beaches and seaside communities that are threatened by erosion. Over the last 15 years, several coastal projects have sought to mitigate the worsening disaster and help locals impacted by crumbling cliffs. "The council has been working with and will continue to work with partners such as the Environment Agency and the national government to maintain sea defences where possible," they added. "Where this isn't possible or feasible, the Council has been working with coastal communities to develop, prepare, and adopt more options to help those communities impacted by coastal erosion." Coastwise - which started in 2022 and will run to 2027 as part of the Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme (CTAP) - is one of the only ongoing projects still trying to help residents adapt to the effects of erosion and climate change along a section of the North Norfolk coastline. It has received £15 million from Defra, as part of the government's £200 million innovation fund, to help 'transition and prepare' coastal communities in the area. "Coastwise will work with residents and businesses to prepare and plan for the long term," the initiative states. "Some immediate changes will support the long-term resilience of communities near the coast." These actions may include: 'Rolling back' property and facilities most likely to be affected by coastal erosion. Improving and replacing damaged community facilities like beach access or coastal transport links. Replacing public or community-owned buildings in areas at risk with removable, modular, or other building ideas. Repurposing land in coastal erosion zones for different uses, such as creating temporary car parks or restoring natural habitats. "Actions may also include working with the finance and property sectors to explore funding methods to help move communities away from fast-eroding areas," Coastwise added. "For example, schemes to encourage the relocation of at-risk infrastructure for businesses and homeowners." After the project ends, it is hoped that communities in North Norfolk feel they have a 'more sustainable future' and can access support helping them move away from risk. The initiative also aims to give the council enough resources and capability to 'assess, find funding, manage and deliver effective adaptation and transition options to its communities'. While Coastwise will not provide compensation for homes lost to erosion, it may be able to offer financial support for residents needing to transition out of the coastal erosion risk area. At the moment, there are around 600 properties in Happisburgh, homing some 1,400 people. Despite Happisburgh's bleak future, the Parish Council says tourists should 'definitely visit' the village. "It is a wonderful holiday destination with a fabulous beach and is a beautiful village," a spokesperson added. This attitude has also been adopted by locals, including Maria Jennings - a B&B owner who is confident the village's environmental challenges won't put off tourists just yet. "We know the risks, but we also know the beauty," she said. "People come here to relax, enjoy the beach and walk the coast. Most understand the situation - they just want to enjoy it while they still can."
BBC News
25-02-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
New car park for erosion-hit Happisburgh moves a step closer
A plan to replace a car park in a seaside village suffering coastal erosion has moved a step forward.A North Norfolk District Council report says the site at Happisburgh will become unsafe as further cliff is lost to the car park opened in 2011, replacing another one in a village that has been increasingly ravaged by the sea in recent council said it would look for a contractor to build the car park, with funding from the government's flood and coastal innovation programmes. The report for councillors says the car park is being eroded and is able to stay open only because a neighbour allows access through their permission to move the clifftop car park further inland, to a site just off Lighthouse Lane, was granted last year. The report recommends that "there should be no delay in progressing with construction… as the existing entrance to the current car park is at severe coastal erosion risk".A spokeswoman for the authority said materials from the existing car park would be used in the new one, with costs covered by the council's Coastwise programme, which received £15m of government funding in 2022."I have no doubt that the future benefits to Happisburgh will prove this project a success," said Liberal Democrat Harry Blathwayt, the council's portfolio holder for the council's cabinet is expected to approve the plan to find a contractor next Monday. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
