Home / Disasters and Accidents / UK Coastline Crumbles: Wet Winters Fuel Cliff Disasters
UK Coastline Crumbles: Wet Winters Fuel Cliff Disasters
6 Apr
Summary
- Record rainfall led to multiple cliff falls across Devon and Cornwall.
- Geologists link collapses to saturated ground from prolonged wet winters.
- Sections of the South West Coast Path are closed due to dangerous landslides.
Multiple locations along the South West coast, including Ilfracombe, Shaldon, Sidmouth, and parts of Cornwall, are facing dangerous conditions due to significant cliff falls. These events are a direct consequence of recent record-breaking rainfall experienced throughout the region during the winter months.
Geologists from the University of Exeter explain that prolonged periods of high groundwater levels from heavy rain saturate the cliffs. This increased water content weakens the rock structure and adds weight, leading to instability and collapse. The phenomenon has caused landslips, including a notable one at Shaldon on March 27th.
Consequently, sections of the South West Coast Path have been closed. In Sidmouth, urgent repairs costing over £100,000 are planned for a crumbling cliff face, with the Millenium Walkway remaining shut indefinitely. Similarly, closures are in effect in Branscombe, where a major landslide has endangered nearby chalets, with paths potentially closed for up to six months.
