A portion of the coast in east Sussex appears to be at risk after thousands of tonnes of chalk fell late last month between Cuckmere Haven and Birling Gap.
According to the BBC, RNLI officer Alan Novis said it was the biggest collapse he had ever seen, with 26ft of the coastline affected. Mr Novis advised people to keep their dogs on leads if they’re walking in the local area as instinct could well kick in if a seagull or rabbit is spotted and then both dog and owner could be in very real danger if they get too close to the edge.
“This is a natural process, so these cliffs are eroding all year round,” Mr Novis went on to add.
Those in the area are now being advised to ensure they stay at least 100m away from the cliff edge at all times, as well as steering clear of the cliff base itself in case further debris comes crashing down.
This part of the English countryside is very popular among holidaymakers and with the weather hotting up so quickly, tourists are sure to visit this area in their droves. Being aware of such issues when going on holiday is undoubtedly important.
There is nothing that can be done to put a halt to cliff erosion so it’s vital that people do take care when in areas that have been affected by this.
Land elsewhere, however, can be fortified in order to help prevent undue surfacesettled movement. Land next to infrastructure like roads and railways is often less stable and may require engineering work to ensure it remains safe. If you think there may be such problems affecting land near you, get in touch with us at Freyssinet to discuss slope stabilization and more.