Filey coastline 'among worst hit by erosion' but councillor says newly-released figures are 'a load of rubbish'

The worrying findings are the result of analysis from home insurance provider Confused.com which used data collected by the UK Environmental Agency’s National Coastal Erosion Risk Mapping project to create a map predicting the speed of erosion on England’s coastline. You can see the map HERE.

According to the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership, Filey is the third worst affected area in Yorkshire and the Humber, where 56% of the coastline is at risk. Hornsea is first, followed by Withernsea.

Scarborough Borough Councillor Mike Cockerill, who lives in Filey, said the figures are “a load of rubbish”.

“There is no doubt that natural forces are causing the advancement of the sea, whether that’s erosion or cliff slumping or both, but not to the extent they are suggesting. I see no justification whatsoever.

“When you look back in my lifetime there has been partly slumping of the cliffs but less than a foot a year.

“I don’t know what information they have gleaned but to me their conclusion is totally incorrect.”

A scheme to protect 40 properties at Flat Cliffs was completed earlier this year. The work saw the drainage of the cliff, which has a tendency to get waterlogged, and the use of sandbags to prevent it from slumping.