Tuesday 25th February 2025 - Cliff Slumps

My photograph on Overstrand Life’s Facebook page, posted on Sunday (see photo below) showing the section of the promenade which is now almost completely covered by a cliff slump, has resulted in various different comments. 

I am aware not everybody has, or wants to have a presence on Facebook and for this reason, I have summarized the comments below.  I feel it is important that as many residents, and tourists too, are able to see these.

• ·        Lack of signage, followed by, photos of signage

• ·        Landslides in Tower Lane

• ·        Council should be accountable for not doing maintenance

• ·        Plant at east end, humans there drinking coffee, chatting or looking at plant, possibly a new village café

• ·        Take our buckets and spades and clear the slump instead of the beach clean

• ·        Climate change

• ·        Slippery promenade, a danger, never mind the locals who have to take their lives in their hands on this stretch

• ·        Clear by Easter when the tourists arrive?

• ·        Drainage not cleared to allow water to run off

• ·        Council don’t care

• ·        Won’t be a reaction until tourists complain, precious beach huts can’t be reached, or they have to dig someone out

• ·        Disgraceful and dangerous

• ·        Village not a big enough money spinner for (council) to bother

• ·        (they) Concentrate on Cromer and Mundesley

• ·        Two comments regarding the boreholes not being maintained

Referring to the final bullet above about boreholes.  I have it on good authority, these were drilled around the 1980’s.  In the ensuing years, various methods were used to keep these clear but all failed.  In short, they did not work.  

Adding to the above comments, I have concerns that the slumps on the promenade, as well as the one at the west end of the promenade, are impeding the passage of walkers as well as the slippery surface being a danger.  From Cromer to Mundesley and vice a versa, the beach and the promenade form part of the Coast Path, a National Trail.  A map, published by Norfolk County Council, showing the Norfolk section can be viewed via this interactive link.

I will be writing to the Coastal Management Team at North Norfolk District Council, enquiring what action they are planning to take to ensure this section of the path is safe and fully open to those walking the Coast path and to the public in general.  I will publish the outcome in a forthcoming blog.  Anyone else wishing to voice their concerns to the Coastal Management Team can do so using this email address: coastal.management@north-norfolk.gov.uk

I took the photo below this morning, looking east, covering the two adjacent slumps.