88-Year-Old Faces Home Loss as Suffolk Cliffs Erode

Jean Flick, an 88-year-old widow, fears losing her clifftop home in Thorpeness, Suffolk, due to severe coastal erosion that has worsened in recent years, with part of her garden wall already collapsing onto the beach. She and her daughter are seeking planning permission for self-funded rock-filled cages called gabions to slow the erosion, as previous defenses were washed away and local authorities have not provided compensation. Ms. Flick has been informed that if the cliff edge approaches within five meters of her house, it will have to be demolished at her own expense, a prospect she finds devastating given her emotional attachment to the home she and her late husband bought for a fresh start. The erosion has impacted other homes in her street, including one demolished in 2022, and Storm Babet in 2023 further damaged the cliffs. Ms. Flick emphasizes the emotional toll of potentially losing a home without compensation and the difficulty of securing agreement among local authorities and stakeholders on protective measures. Her home, built in 1928 and cherished for its sea views, stands near the Sizewell nuclear power station site, underscoring ongoing environmental challenges in the area.