Pakefield Residents Urge Greater Assistance in Erosion Fight

Individuals advocating for the preservation of clifftop residences have been investigating novel strategies to combat erosion and methods for securing financial resources. However, they have indicated that additional assistance is necessary to implement potential remedies. The Pakefield Coast Protection Community Interest Company (PCPCIC), located in Suffolk, was established following the demolition of three chalets in November 2023. PCPCIC directors emphasized the urgent need for measures to prevent further residential properties from succumbing to the sea, particularly with the impending winter storm season. They proposed relocating rocks from an existing defence project at Benacre. However, coastline management officials deemed this unfeasible at present, despite acknowledging that rocks deployed on Pakefield beach in 2022 were offering “temporary protection” to the local population. Clive Crossley, a director of the PCPCIC who lives close to the cliff edge at Pakefield, stated: “Coastal communities are not that well supported. We are hoping to keep the status quo as it is, but action is needed now to stop further erosion. “It’s been two years since the rocks were put in place and they have worked well, but it’s unfortunate we couldn’t get the amount we wanted and we now need more rocks to stop erosion happening to the north and south of the current defences. “We are hoping to attract funding for future defence schemes but we need to get more support and ideas on the table to make this happen.” John Pitts, also a director of PCPCIC, commented: “I think it’s so important for the people who live here that something is done in the short term because coastal erosion is just happening so fast.”We’ve lost so much land in the past six years and the movement of more rocks here as soon as possible is crucial for people living here.” Proponents of the cause had investigated a proposal to relocate granite rock from the adjacent Benacre site, which they suggested might become surplus once a more substantial defence system, incorporating steel pilings to safeguard the A12, is constructed. Their hope was that some of these rocks could subsequently be utilized at Pakefield. However, an East Suffolk Council spokesperson responded: “The project at Benacre is ongoing and not expected to be complete for three to five years, until which time no rock can be removed and its future disposal would ultimately be at the discretion of the Environment Agency and the private landowner.” The spokesperson continued: “We have been working with affected communities, and with other government agencies, to explore available options to reduce the risk of erosion along the East Suffolk coast.”Erosion rates at Pakefield have exceeded all predictions and the local community is understandably very concerned.”A rock solution was put in place in December 2022, funded by East Suffolk Council and the Defra-supported Resilient Coasts project, but this was only a temporary measure and is likely to come under more pressure as erosion rates potentially increase.” The council indicated that both medium and long-term rock-based solutions for Pakefield had been evaluated and presented to the community. Nevertheless, it stated that “the funding needed to complete works to enable rock to be in place for the 20 to 30 years would require significant external contribution from the community”. The council further affirmed: “We will continue to support the community at risk and prioritise keeping people safe, including focusing resources on emergency planning and incident response protocols for the winter.”