Holderness Coastline

• Fastest eroding coast in the UK,

  geology- boulder clay & glacial sands make up most of the coast

  waves- hydraulic action, attrition & abrasion occur to the long fetch
• Issues with defending the coast:

  • defending the coast can exacerbate issues further down the coast
  • coast defences are not feasible and expensive for some places
  • no money is given for loss of land
• Mike Needly - Ringborough Farm:

  • in 1939 he had 145 acers of land, rates of loss by 1-2 meters a year
  • he lost nearly half of his land
  • a farmer in 1973 had to remove his piggery due to eroding coast
  • he now sells bottled natural gas to survive
• Where have defences not been built:

  • Kilnsea East Riding Council have decided defences are not cost effective. Local people have implemented flood drainage ditches (soft) which is expected to last for 20 years
  • Sandy Beaches Caravan Park does not have defences and so lost land, 10 meters in one storm
• Where defences have been built

  • Easington has it because it supplies 29% of the UK through pipelines from the continent - groynes & riprap have been built to protect the area for 50 years
• Where defences have been built

  • Mappleton has it as it has a road connecting the village (34 meters from the sea)
  • cost £1.9 million in 1991 using 6 tonnes of granite, 2 large groynes
  • it allows people to get mortgages and 20 people working at the local car garage to keep their jobs