Clifftop house left on the brink after landslide on storm battered coast

27 February 2024 , 13:35

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The aftermath of a huge landslide under a clifftop house (Image: Kent Online/SWNS)

A clifftop house has been left closer to the edge after second landslide in a month along the same stretch of storm-battered UK coastline.

Pictures show the aftermath of the huge landslide which has now re-blocked The Road of Remembrance in Folkestone, Kent. It first closed on January 27 after the initial incident. A resident who lives at the top of the cliff and did not wish to be named said: "It started at 2am on Saturday. The whole lot is gone. It's come away all the way along the cliff edge."

The affected area now appears to be roughly three times bigger than it previously was. A Kent County Council (KCC) highways vehicle is said to be at the bottom of the road, and contractors were in the Shoreline flats' car park nearby. KCC and Folkestone and Hythe District Council have been working to investigate the issue and make the route safe since the initial incident.

The bank is understood to belong to various individuals, and work has been ongoing to identify the owners. A spokesman for the county council said: "We are aware of a further landslip in the Road of Remembrance, Folkestone, which has taken place. Our team is on-site and assessing the situation. Our investigations continue and the road remains closed to protect public safety."

The bank is understood to belong to various individuals, and work has been ongoing to identify the owners (Kent Online/SWNS)

Two weeks ago, trees on the road which were dying, diseased or dangerous were cut down and reduced in height with the aim of "reducing further landslips". This caused a fierce backlash, and huge sections of plants, including "iconic" Yukka trees were "decimated". Christina Ainsworth said: "Instead of trimming the trees to make the cliffside safer, they've gleefully chopped them down completely.

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"They have been decimated - it is nothing short of a disgrace." An FHDC spokesman responded to the criticism, saying: "Our tree specialists are working on the bank above Folkestone's Road of Remembrance to reduce tree growth and shrubbery, to prevent future landslips and erosion to the bank.

"The work that the team is undertaking includes removing all shrub growth, removing sycamore trees and treating stumps to prevent regrowth which encourages the shrub layer to naturally regenerate. In addition, the 12 evergreen oak trees are being coppiced to a height that will allow them to regenerate rapidly and form a low hedge. A pine tree is also being removed."

The aftermath of a huge landslide under a clifftop house in Folkestone (Kent Online/SWNS)

"It is appreciated that the work at this stage may look severe but anyone concerned should be reassured that this work is being undertaken professionally to reduce the weight on the bank whilst maintaining its structure to ensure future public safety."

It comes after Kent was battered by high winds and heavy showers last night and this morning. Many roads have been blocked by fallen trees and flooding. There is a yellow weather warning for rain in place and two flood alerts.

Rom Preston-Ellis