Hemsby resident wants to take government to court over coastal erosion plan
Kevin Jordan is one of two joining with 'Save Hemsby Coastline' and 'Friends of the Earth' to argue the current plans are "unlawful"
Last updated 6th Nov 2023
A man living on the seafront in Hemsby is planning to take the Government to court over how they're protecting villages suffering from coastal erosion.
Kevin Jordan is one of two joining with 'Save Hemsby Coastline' and 'Friends of the Earth' to argue the current plans are "unlawful".
The claimants filed their legal challenge at the High Court on Tuesday 17 October, requesting a judicial review of the government’s National Adaptation Programme.
They argue this plan falls short and is unlawful on the grounds that it breaches the Climate Change Act for failing to set out lawful ‘adaptation objectives’, and publish an assessment of the risks of it's plans and policies.
The case, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, also asks the court to rule that the national plan breaches the human rights of Mr Jordan by failing to protect lives, homes and property from foreseeable impacts of the climate change.
"I've got nowhere else to go"
When Kevin bought his home 13 years ago, he was told it should be safe for about 100 years, but vehicle access to his property was recently cut off due to the recent collapse of part of his road into the sea, caused by coastal erosion
His house on The Marrams is now 5 metres from the North Sea, thanks to a blend of a soft sandy seafront, ferocious tides and no permanent sea defences.
He told us what they're hoping to achieve through this legal action:
"To embarrass the government into taking action and looking again at the criteria they use for these defences. So far in the Shoreline Management Plan and the like for this area, they didn't mention people - just businesses and value.
"I've got nowhere else to go. My property has been rendered unsaleable now. I don't have enough savings to move and there's no equity in this property anymore. I'm retired and on a pension, I can't go anywhere. I'm here until I'm told I have to move out...
"I'm saddened by the whole situation. I'm also disgusted"
"I'm expecting the worst this winter and spring. I'm expecting my road to be cut off again, as it was after the March storm. The problem we've got here and now is that we're getting unprecedented storms in August and October, as well".
"I'm saddened by the whole situation. I'm also disgusted recently as it was during Storm Babet that we were told by local government that there would be no funding for sea defences in Hemsby, because it's said that we don't meet the criteria."
"We need our government to take urgent action"
Will Rundle, head of legal at Friends of the Earth, said:
“This year has set a string of new global temperature records which have driven deadly heatwaves and wildfires across the world, and last July the UK exceeded 40C for the first time ever.
“We need our government to take urgent action to curb emissions and put in place credible plans to keep us safe from the extreme weather and impacts of climate change already devastating people’s lives. But the government’s latest adaptation plan continues to fall far short of what’s needed – and comes amid backtracking on the green policies needed to tackle climate change.
“Our co-claimants are among those most at risk from the climate crisis. We hope this case will lead to more ambitious and effective adaptation plans that better protect everyone, especially those who are already being hardest hit by climate breakdown.”
What has the Government said?
"The third National Adaptation Programme (NAP3) sets out a strategic five-year plan to boost resilience and protect people, homes, businesses and our cultural heritage against climate change risks.
"It builds on the significant investment in adaptation measures, including £5.2 billion in flood and coastal schemes in England, over £750 million for the Nature for Climate Fund, and £80 million for the Green Recovery Challenge Fund - all of which play a crucial role in enhancing the UK’s resilience to climate change."