Desperate people facing 'pending disaster' from coastal erosion have said they will need to raise £10m to protect their community. 

The Pakefield Community Group (PCG) has announced they are planning to become a Community Interest Group (CIC) to help them source the money. 

The move comes after recent weeks saw the cliffs lose an estimated 13ft - or around 4m.

Three chalets were demolished last month and a further 12 holiday homes have been left perilously close to the edge after high tides and strong winds.

Lowestoft Journal: Drone images showing how close the caravans are to the cliff edge following erosion damage in Pakefield, Lowestoft. Drone images showing how close the caravans are to the cliff edge following erosion damage in Pakefield, Lowestoft. (Image: LN Drone Photography)

And yet, according to John Ward, chair of PCG, Pakefield is "not being listened to".

He said the clifftop "desperately" needs emergency intervention - such as the rocks placed on the beach in December last year - to slow the pace of erosion.

"At the present rate, it is easy to predict that the access road, permanent residences and one major business will be at severe risk this winter," he added.

Since 2019, Coastal Partnership East (CPE), on behalf of East Suffolk Council, has been working with the Pakefield community to explore the coastal management options.

Lowestoft Journal: John Ward, chair of Pakefield Community Group, says that residents need more help against the threat of coastal erosion. John Ward, chair of Pakefield Community Group, says that residents need more help against the threat of coastal erosion. (Image: Mick Howes)

READ MORE: People evacuated as part of Lowestoft road falls into sea

But Mr Ward said that CPE support has been slow and insufficient - and without "the necessary backing", it is difficult to get funding from parliament.

"As a group, PCPG is striving to find a way to secure funding to protect our entire cliff which is under threat," Mr Ward said.

At present estimates, this would cost around £10m - but as "there is very little funding available from central government, this will all be down to us," he added. 

A spokesperson for Coastal Partnership East said the agency has "worked closely with the Pakefield community since 2019, examining the defence options".

"We successfully applied for funding on the community’s behalf so that a coastal process and options appraisal could be completed and during a subsequent consultation, the community chose their preferred option. Unfortunately, the proposed scheme did not qualify for full Government funding and instead requires a partnership funding approach."

The spokesperson said the CPE have trialled temporary measures in the interim to buy time while exploring various options for funding however the cost of the scheme has escalated considerably with inflation, and we have also now experienced further erosion. 

"However, we are continuing to work hard behind the scenes to plan for Pakefield’s future," they added.

Lowestoft Journal: Erosion at Pakefield cliffs in Lowestoft. Erosion at Pakefield cliffs in Lowestoft. (Image: Mick Howes)

Last month, a section of the road collapsed in front of the clifftop caravans near Pakefield Holiday Park, several people were evacuated and a "dangerous" slope was cordoned off.

"It's a fortnight until the next spring tide," Mr Ward said. "If we have the same devastation we did last time, you're talking about another 20 feet of clifftop.