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Hemsby erosion: Roadway cut through cliff edge to rescue cars

Dan Hurd/Hemsby Lifeboat Digger cutting through scrubland to create access road.Dan Hurd/Hemsby Lifeboat
Machinery contractors and volunteers helped cut the new access within hours of permission being granted

An emergency access has been cut through scrubland to recover vehicles stranded when a road collapsed.

Residents of The Marrams in Hemsby, Norfolk, had only a few hours notice in November to move their vehicles as storms hit the eroding coastline.

Some were unable to move their cars and caravans before sections of the only access road fell into the sea.

Hemsby Lifeboat coxswain Daniel Hurd said they were only able to act after landowners granted consent.

Andrew Turner/BBC Lifeboat coxswain Daniel Hurd stands on the newly cut roadway with the sea in the background.Andrew Turner/BBC
Lifeboat coxswain Daniel Hurd said it took about four hours to get the roadway cut and the vehicles removed.

"We had a contractor in with a machine and I got the plant [machinery] in within two hours of being given the go-ahead," he said.

"I want to thank Paula [landowner] because this wouldn't have been possible to get the vehicles safely back onto the road so they're not a danger.

"When we got them off there was a big cheer from these people.

"It was a nice project to do and give something back to these people and get these vehicles off before Christmas because it put a smile on everybody's face."

Marion Pegg, 69, who has lived on The Marrams for 23 years with her 81-year-old husband David, said to get her car back was a huge relief.

"It's marvellous, and we are all grateful," she said.

Andrew Turner/BBC Marion Pegg standing on the newly cut access roadAndrew Turner/BBC
Marion Pegg said the new roadway allowed them to move her car which had been cut off when the access road collapsed

"My daughter bought me another car, so I had wheels but it was nice to get my own car back.

"They've done a really good job and they did it so quick and so carefully.

"I know they took some trees down, but the rest of it was done to what we wanted, so there was no damage."

Mr Hurd said he was not holding out hope of funding for sea defences in 2024 and feared the coastline would erode further.

"With the elections due next year, is there going to be a change then? Is someone going to find this money?

"I don't think so. I think they're going to leave this like it's been left for 10 years.

"I'm hoping I'm wrong and I'm hoping they get a sea defence in as soon as possible."

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