Bournemouth beach huts threatened by cliff landslips this October
- Two recent landslips in Bournemouth displaced 14 beach huts due to unstable cliffs.
- Geologist Alan Holiday attributed the ongoing risk of landslips to climate change and excess water in the soil.
- Without intervention, further damage to coastal structures is likely, leading to potentially high remediation costs.
On October 9 and again on October 21, landslips occurred at Durley Chine, near Bournemouth Pier in the UK, causing significant destruction to approximately 14 beach huts that were displaced across the promenade. Geologist Alan Holiday, president of the Dorset Geologists' Association Group, indicated that climate change is exacerbating this issue, leading to ongoing mass movement of the cliffs. Situations like this pose a serious risk as heavy rainfall contributes to soil saturation, compromising the stability of the cliffs. Investigations by local flood and coastal erosion risk management experts are ongoing, supported by the installation of warning signs and fencing around the affected areas. Holiday warned that without preventive measures, such as effective drainage systems, further subsidence could threaten even more structures along the coast, with estimated remediation costs running into millions. Interestingly, the local herd of goats grazing on the cliffs were unharmed by the landslips, ensuring their safety.