St Leonards: Residents forced to leave homes after landslip

Residents have been forced to leave their homes following a landslip in East Sussex.

Hastings Borough Council (HBC) was made aware of the landslip at Old Roar Gill, St Leonards on 15 February and the area was closed off.

Resident Ralitsa Hiteva said she was "heartbroken" about the situation.

HBC said the two Emergency Prohibition Orders will remain in place until the issues are resolved and the housing team is satisfied it is safe to return.

A council spokesperson said a geotechnical assessment suggested the slippage had started on private land and residents were being told to contact their insurance companies.

HBC issued the evacuation order on Wednesday to homeowners whose properties back on to Old Roar Gill.

Dr Hiteva, who is a senior research fellow at the University of Sussex focusing on climate change and infrastructure, says she believes the landslip is "absolutely" connected to climate change.

After speaking with her insurance company and the council, Dr Hiteva is calling for there to be a "much better way" to deal with the situation and support impacted residents.

Old Roar Gill is a narrow, wooded valley which runs along the upper reaches of Alexandra Park. The nature reserve is owned and managed by Hastings Borough Council.

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