Latest news with #Thorpeness
BBC News
17 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Beccles Golf Club wins Tolly Cobbold Trophy for first time
A golf club believed to be one of the smallest in the UK has won an inter-county competition for the first time. Beccles Golf Club in Suffolk has just 35 members, but made it to Sunday's fifth and final round of the Tolly Cobbold Cup at Thorpeness. Club captain Stuart Hagger said the team were "underdogs" and were not favourites to triumph against Ufford Park Golf Club, based at Melton, near he said Beccles fought hard for the win, which he described as a "great" achievement. "We are certainly the smallest club in Suffolk without a doubt, and I'd even say maybe in the UK more than likely, I don't know any smaller clubs than ours," said Mr Hagger, who was a non-playing captain for the final. "So to go out and win the thing, it's a great achievement and there was a lot of emotion." Mr Hagger believed it was the first time the club had ever got past the second round and once they had reached the semi-final, he said, they wanted to win the whole thing."Everyone was writing us off," he continued."Thorpeness were the favourites [in the semi-final], they'd won the competition the previous year and had a very good record in the competitions."So we were the massive underdogs in that, but we pulled it around."That was the same with Ufford Park - they had a good record and won the thing in 2017."They'd been semi-finalists before, so again they were hot favourite to win the match." The final was tight and Mr Hagger said "at some points it did look a bit worrying".However, he said there was a "big drive" from the team and they ended up winning by five holes."Just to win it by five holes is tremendous," Mr Hagger continued. "We all disappeared to Wetherspoons in Beccles, which is where the guys have been going every time we won a match, just to have a celebration because it's been such a great thing just to win."We've got some special people at Beccles and without them we wouldn't have a golf club."We wanted to win it for them, that was a big motivation for us." The Tolly Cobbold Cup is competed for by clubs affiliated to the Suffolk Golf Union. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
The race to save Thorpeness cliffs: Row of £1million luxury homes facing falling into the North Sea without action
Desperate plans are being drawn up to save a row of £1million clifftop homes from toppling into the North Sea. Coastal erosion in the up-market seaside village of Thorpeness in Suffolk is getting worse by the day despite attempts to shore up the sandy cliffs to protect more than a dozen properties from the waves. Drones are now being used to monitor the crumbling cliffs as long-term plans are made to deal with concerns about 'accelerated' erosion but there are fears that as many as a dozen houses will have to demolished or simply abandoned to the waves. The local council has launched a survey to decide how to help the worried residents decide what to do - and to prepare the tiny community for the worst. One of the most at-risk properties is home to 88-year-old Jean Flick who fears her 100-year-old cliff-top home will vanish within a year. Her daughter Frances Paul said: 'She is already losing her garden and if it gets worse a demolition order will be put on her house. 'The council has put rock filled cages on the beach but they are not having much effect. 'The situation is getting very serious - every time the tide comes in more of the cliffs are washed away.' The changes to the scenery have already started taking effect in 2022 when a couple had to demolish their £2million home. Richard Moore, a director at Ipswich Town FC at the time, and his wife Sheila were told by council officials it was unsafe to live in. The power of the waves has washed away at least 50ft of their back garden in the last 20 months, leaving it just 30ft from the edge of the cliff. The house, which has spectacular views over the North Sea would have been worth around £2 million if it were not for erosion but it is now worthless. It is was the first major property in the upmarket village to be effectively lost to the sea since the East Coast floods of 1953. Mark Packard, East Suffolk council's cabinet member for planning and coastal management, said: 'We have some of the fastest eroding coast in north-west Europe and whilst a certain amount of erosion happens each year, there has been an accelerated rate of erosion at Thorpeness recently. The local council has launched a survey to decide how to help the worried residents decide what to do - and to prepare the tiny community for the worst 'We are currently supporting a small group of affected residents to explore temporary short-term interventions while plans are explored for a long-term solution.' 'We have met residents affected to outline a management plan and action that we would have to take if the situation reaches critical level.' Drone photography is now being used to monitor the area and record the rate of erosion and beach movement. Mr Packard said: 'While we are dealing with the imminent risk to properties, we are also keen to engage the wider community to raise awareness of the issues and ensure people have the opportunity to develop and share ideas on what actions could help Thorpeness prepare for the future impacts of coastal erosion and tidal flooding.' Meanwhile a pressure group the Thorpeness Community Interest Company has applied for planning permission to install nearly 6,000 tonnes of rock as part of extensions to an existing defences.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Villagers face 'bureaucracy' in fight against sea
Residents of a coastal village say they are willing to pay for defences to protect their homes from the sea but are being thwarted by bureaucracy and delay. One home in Thorpeness, Suffolk, was demolished in 2022 after it was left perilously close to the cliff edge, and villagers fear two more could be lost this winter. Maureen Jones, chair of Aldringham-cum-Thorpe Parish Council, said residents were willing to invest money in defending their homes but had been met with challenges. East Suffolk Council told the BBC that getting the necessary permission for such defences took time. Defences, including rocks, gabions and geobags, have been installed to manage the effects of coastal erosion, but last year up to 23ft (7m) of coast was lost to the sea. Some residents want to install more defences "Residents in Thorpeness are prepared to put in money and they have put in for planning but unfortunately at the moment they are coming up against a brick wall because there's about 10 agencies concerned in getting planning through," said Jones. Sophie Marple, who bought her home in Thorpeness about 20 years ago, describes it as her "happy place". In 2010, after the area was hit with a "big surge" and more defences were installed, she decided to invest and rebuild the property. "It gave us a feeling of security. There was a thought if they maintained, we would have a life of at least 25 years," she said. However, over the past winter there have been "constant" northerly winds which have stripped back shingle on the beach and left defences exposed. She said she had received a warning from East Suffolk Council that once the erosion reached a certain point, she would be told to demolish her home. "We are going to fight to do something. One of the things this does do is bring the people together who are most affected," she said. Lucy Ansbro has already spent £450,000 on rock defences to protect her home. She and others have applied for permission to install more, but have been told this would require a full environmental impact assessment, which could take months. The council has launched a survey, asking villagers what they think should be done. It said the latest erosion had outpaced plans to install more rocks and it was doing all it could to support homeowners. Mark Packard, Liberal Democrat cabinet member for planning and coastal management, said: "It does take time and you have to have specialists doing that. "That's going to slow things up tremendously, and then you have to get all these permissions from Natural England, from the Environment Agency, from the Crown Estates - all sorts of people - and they take their time." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on this story Push to protect village from erosion threat begins Plans made to defend cliffs with more rocks Erosion fears affecting mental health - residents Coastal dwellers may pay more towards defences Related internet links Aldringham-cum-Thorpe Parish Council East Suffolk Council
BBC News
6 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Thorpeness residents face 'bureaucracy' in fight to save homes
Residents of a coastal village say they are willing to pay for defences to protect their homes from the sea but are being thwarted by bureaucracy and home in Thorpeness, Suffolk, was demolished in 2022 after it was left perilously close to the cliff edge, and villagers fear two more could be lost this Jones, chair of Aldringham-cum-Thorpe Parish Council, said residents were willing to invest money in defending their homes but had been met with Suffolk Council told the BBC that getting the necessary permission for such defences took time. Defences, including rocks, gabions and geobags, have been installed to manage the effects of coastal erosion, but last year up to 23ft (7m) of coast was lost to the residents want to install more defences"Residents in Thorpeness are prepared to put in money and they have put in for planning but unfortunately at the moment they are coming up against a brick wall because there's about 10 agencies concerned in getting planning through," said Marple, who bought her home in Thorpeness about 20 years ago, describes it as her "happy place". In 2010, after the area was hit with a "big surge" and more defences were installed, she decided to invest and rebuild the property. "It gave us a feeling of security. There was a thought if they maintained, we would have a life of at least 25 years," she said. However, over the past winter there have been "constant" northerly winds which have stripped back shingle on the beach and left defences exposed. She said she had received a warning from East Suffolk Council that once the erosion reached a certain point, she would be told to demolish her home."We are going to fight to do something. One of the things this does do is bring the people together who are most affected," she said. Lucy Ansbro has already spent £450,000 on rock defences to protect her and others have applied for permission to install more, but have been told this would require a full environmental impact assessment, which could take months. The council has launched a survey, asking villagers what they think should be said the latest erosion had outpaced plans to install more rocks and it was doing all it could to support Packard, Liberal Democrat cabinet member for planning and coastal management, said: "It does take time and you have to have specialists doing that."That's going to slow things up tremendously, and then you have to get all these permissions from Natural England, from the Environment Agency, from the Crown Estates - all sorts of people - and they take their time." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
12-08-2025
- General
- BBC News
Erosion survey launched for Thorpeness by East Suffolk Council
Drones are being used to monitor a seaside village's crumbling cliffs as long-term plans are made to deal with concerns about "accelerated" has been one of the biggest issues for residents of Thorpeness in recent years as plans for new sea defences are Suffolk Council (ESC) has now launched a survey to help inform decisions and attempt to ensure the community is Packard, Liberal Democrat cabinet member for planning and coastal management, said: "East Suffolk has some of the fastest eroding coast in north-west Europe and whilst a certain amount of erosion happens each year, there has been an accelerated rate of erosion at Thorpeness recently." Residents, visitors and businesses are being asked to take part in the survey, with ESC officers meeting homeowners to discuss safety photography is also being used to monitor the area and gain an increased understanding of erosion rates and beach Packard continued: "Whilst we are dealing with the imminent risk to properties, we are also keen to engage the wider community to raise awareness of the issues and ensure people have the opportunity to develop and share ideas on what actions could help Thorpeness prepare for the future impacts of coastal erosion and tidal flooding."The work comes after a large house in the village's North End Avenue had to be demolished in October 2022 after being deemed Community Interest Company has since applied to ESC for planning permission to install about 5,700 tonnes of rock as part of two 50m (165ft) extensions to an existing armour revetment. Mr Packard added: "Each coastal area has a Shoreline Management Plan, which identifies whether the coastline will be defended - known as 'hold the line' - realigned or undefended."For Thorpeness, the guidance is for 'managed realignment' which means that where possible, measures might be permitted that slow erosion down but not stop it. Therefore, we must look at how we can adapt to such risks."The work is funded through the Resilient Coasts project, part of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' £200m Flood and Coastal Innovation deadline for responses to the survey is 14 September. The answers will then be shared and discussed at a community meeting to create an adaptation plan. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
