Lighthouse not at immediate risk from erosion

1 day ago

Robby Westin Happisburgh

News image — Happisburgh lighthouse "should be OK for at least 30 years" Harry Blathwayt said

BBC A head and shoulders image of Harry Blathwayt. He is wearing a dark, hooded top and glasses. Happisburgh Lighthouse is fully in view over his right shoulder. It has three red and two white stripes around it, below the lantern, and a cottage at its base. — Happisburgh lighthouse "should be OK for at least 30 years" Harry Blathwayt said

A coastal landmark is not at risk of imminently falling into the sea despite work starting to relocate the car park next door, a councillor said.

Work has begun to move the car park next to Happisburgh Lighthouse due to coastal erosion near the entrance.

North Norfolk District Council's Harry Blathwayt said experts predicted the lighthouse should be "OK for at least 30 years".

The councillor, who is portfolio holder for the coast, said there was a "different land structure" underneath the lighthouse, which was built in 1791, meaning it was not at immediate risk.

North Norfolk District Council An aerial image of Happisburgh Lighthouse with its traditional red and white horizontal stripes. It is in the middle of a field. At the bottom is the beach and cliff, with the existing car park touching the cliff edge. An orange square pinpoints where the new car park will be - further inland, behind a row of houses. A caption reads "Photo taken in October 2024". — The new location (orange) for the replacement car park in Happisburgh, which is currently on the cliff edge

The pay-and-display car park in the village was moved to its current location in 2011.

Blathwayt, who is a Liberal Democrat councillor for Hickling, said having a car park in the village was "vital" for the community.

He had hoped the car park would have lasted longer than 15 years, but described the loss of land as "a more dynamic situation".

When asked about the neighbouring lighthouse being at risk, he said it was not, according to mapping currently provided by the Environment Agency.

"It's on higher land, there's a different land structure underneath it, so we should be OK there," he said.

BBC Sounds: Inside Happisburgh Lighthouse

The lighthouse is the oldest working on in East Anglia and is 26m tall (85ft). It is owned and operated independently using voluntary contributions.

The project to move the car park is part of a £200m programme by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which is managed by the Environment Agency.

The toilet block and play park will also be moved and reused in the new car park.

The council said it aimed to keep the existing car park open until the new one was completed.

Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.