Coastal erosion at Skipsea 'worst it's been'
CHALETS which have stood proudly on the east coast for 70 years have become the latest victims to erosion.
Artist Saffron Waghorn says 20ft (six metres) of the Skipsea coast has been lost since December – the worst she has seen in her 20 years living in the area.
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FORCED OUT: Saffron Waghorn at her ruined studio and house on the cliff-top at Skipsea.
Half a dozen chalets with asbestos issues and concrete foundations are currently being demolished because of their position on the crumbling coastline.
A handful have been able to be saved and pulled further inland.
Although Ms Waghorn has lost her studio, in one of the chalets, she did manage to winch a separate chalet she also uses to the other side of the road to prevent it going over the cliff edge.
She said: "The erosion's been worse this year than ever, probably due to the bad weather. I've never seen erosion constantly bad before. It's devastating."
The first chalets in the area appeared in about 1939, and at one point Ms Waghorn says there could have been 40 in place.
They did used to be lived in, but over the years the number of people choosing to reside in them has deteriorated.
Only one resident who lived there has had to be moved.
East Riding Council has covered the demolition costs also helped with the moving and storage costs.
3 Comments
by Astonomia, East Riding
Monday, March 22 2010, 5:09PM
“I went to have a look at this bit of coastline for the first time in about a year. I was shocked at how much had gone & how quickly.”
by Charlie Cool, Always within striking distance.
Monday, March 22 2010, 11:29AM
“"They did used to be lived in" is another.
Where did these idiots learn to be journalists?”
by Old Mick, Hull
Monday, March 22 2010, 9:50AM
“"Half a dozen chalets with asbestos issues--"
Interesting use of the English language.”