Clearing Up After the Surge

Cromer and Sheringham promenades are still closed to the public as clean-up work goes on in the wake of Friday's storm surge, which left areas of the seafronts damaged and unsafe. Overstrand's prom is now also being closed.

The foot of Cromer Pier - the Pavilion Theatre Box Office, Tides restaurant, Footprints gift shop and the public toilets - was open for some of the weekend, but has closed again to allow repairs to the pier and parts of the Pavilion Theatre. It is hoped that the pier and promenades - or areas of them - will reopen before the end of this week.

North Norfolk District Council Environmental Health officers visited around 100 homes at Walcott on Friday, assessing the damage and checking whether people needed temporary accommodation. Householders were flooded out of at least 20 properties, and many more homes were damaged by the weather but remained habitable.

Most of those occupants and families whose homes were uninhabitable found their own accommodation with friends and family. Two residents of a caravan park (which was not flooded, but which suffered electricity failure) were put up in caravan elsewhere and one householder, whose home was flooded, was given temporary accommodation by North Norfolk District Council's Strategic Housing Team. All of those people have now made other arrangements. The Strategic Housing Team continues to give advice to people, offer accommodation to those in need, and help householders contact their insurance companies.

The recovery operation across North Norfolk is extensive, and there are many issues to address.

• It will be days before the full extent of the damage to sea defences and beach accesses is known, and what it will cost to repair.
• Areas along the District's seafront that have suffered damage and which are unsafe, like beach chalet blocks, beach huts, railings and steps, need to be cordoned off, cleared of debris and repaired. Just replacing damaged handrails may cost in the region of £20,000.
• The stability of shingle banks is being assessed before debris is cleared from them.
• The decking of Cromer Pier and parts of the floor of the Pavilion Theatre were damaged. The steelwork underneath the pier needs to be inspected before this can be properly repaired, but the pier and theatre will be fixed as soon as possible so they can be brought back into use.
• Beach hut owners and beach chalet occupants have suffered individual losses. They are asked to call Stephen Bowles at NNDC on 01263 516049 to arrange for their effects to be taken away and get help with clearing damaged goods.
• Several Council-owned beach chalets were severely damaged, with initial projections for repair costs running to £40,000 or more.
• A five-metre length of sea wall gave way at Mundesley, but this was part of a stretch that was already known to be damaged and was scheduled to undergo maintenance this winter anyway.
• At Overstrand, the handrail along the whole length of sea wall will need to be replaced.
• Some debris like handrails may be salvageable or have scrap value.

The Council is paying close attention to costs involved in the recovery operation, with a view to claiming money back from the Government under the 'Bellwin' compensation scheme.

NOTES FOR EDITOR

• For information about temporary accommodation call NNDC's Strategic Housing Team on 01263 516188.
• For information about preventing flooding to your home or business, visit the Environment Agency website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk or call the Floodline number on 0845 988 1188. You can register with the Environment Agency to receive warnings about imminent flooding.

ENDS