Plea to protect properties 'at serious risk' in Pakefield

Campaigners are calling for a "United Pakefield" as they seek to secure more than £10m in funding that would be needed to extend the current rock revetment to the north and south of its current position in Pakefield, Lowestoft.

With the Pakefield Coast Protection Group (PCPG) planning to become a Community Interest Group (CIC) to help them source the money, they will hold an Extraordinary General Meeting at 10.30am on January 13 at Pakefield Church Hall.

John Ward. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

John Ward, who is chairman of the Pakefield Community Group, said: "All members of the public are invited to the meeting, and there will be only one item on the agenda, which will be to discuss PCPG applying to form a CIC.

"The reason for this application is to put the group in a better position to enable access to the large amount of funding required to provide protection to our cliff at Pakefield."

Waveney MP Peter Aldous. (Image: Archant)

Earlier this month, during a Westminster Hall debate - entitled Coastal Erosion: Suffolk and Norfolk - that was secured by Waveney MP Peter Aldous following the recent destruction of properties in Pakefield and Hemsby, Mr Aldous said: "The situation unfolding in Pakefield illustrates the gravity of the threat that coastal erosion is now presenting.

Warnings at Pakefield cliffs. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

"It has been known for some years that there is a problem, and some four years ago the local community came together as the Pakefield Coast Protection Steering Group to work with Coastal Partnership East to come up with both temporary and long-term solutions.

"A rock revetment to provide temporary protection was installed last December, but that did not prevent significant further erosion following a storm last month, and three properties had to be demolished.

The end of the rocks at Pakefield cliff. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

"There is now an urgent need to protect the toe of the cliff and to prevent the cliff access road from being lost.

"If the latter happens, a large residential community will be very cruelly exposed and at serious risk."

Pakefield cliffs. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

Calling for an emergency package for Coastal Partnership East to better protect communities, Mr Aldous added: "The current budgeted cost for properly protecting Pakefield is estimated at approximately £11 million, but the flood and coastal erosion risk management grant-in-aid calculator calculates that only £492,000 can be provided towards that."

Ahead of next month's meeting, Mr Ward said: "The main thing is to get a United Pakefield.

Pakefield cliffs. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

"The proposed measures of extending the current rock revetment - favoured by the public consultation and Coastal Partnership East - will cost in the region of £11m, of which only a small proportion will come from Central Government.

"The group's aim is to raise the necessary funds to engage the services of an experienced fundraiser to explore all avenues of funding.

Pakefield cliffs. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

"Four properties have already been lost, and more properties and caravans are at severe risk.

"We need help immediately, not tomorrow, but now."

Earlier this month, a spokesman for Coastal Partnership East said the agency has "worked closely with the Pakefield community since 2019, examining the defence options" and they "are continuing to work hard behind the scenes to plan for Pakefield’s future."

Clifftop resident Mark Sharman, at Arbor Lane in Pakefield, Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

Clifftop resident Mark Sharman, who lives on Arbor Lane in Pakefield, said about an estimated 13ft - or around 4m - of cliff had been lost in the recent storms, with properties and holiday homes left perilously close to the edge after high tides and strong winds.

Mr Sharman said: "We are wanting our voices to be heard.

"Now that the higher level of beach has gone, the foot of the cliffs is now exposed to the sea.

Mark Sharman, Arbor Lane resident, at Pakefield cliffs. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

"Placing the rock 200m south of Arbor Lane - that is still intact and has done the job - but as soon as you get past the rocks to the north to the exposed cliff there are around nine properties at serious risk."