Why is the Cold War bunker in East Yorkshire at risk of falling?

The bunker is at risk due to severe coastal erosion on one of the UK's fastest-receding coastlines.

What is being done about the bunker on Tunstall Beach?

The local council has advised people to avoid the area as the bunker is on private land and the coast is undefended.

How fast is the East Yorkshire coastline eroding?

The cliff line in East Yorkshire is retreating by approximately four metres per year, a rate accelerated by climate change.

Home / Environment / Cold War Bunker Teeters on Edge of Sea

Cold War Bunker Teeters on Edge of Sea

16 Jan

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Summary

A Cold War nuclear bunker is on the verge of falling into the sea.
The structure is located on one of the UK's fastest eroding coastlines.
Authorities advise the public to avoid the cliff and beach area.

A historic Cold War nuclear bunker, potentially built in 1959 as a look-out post, is in imminent danger of collapsing into the sea. The structure, located above Tunstall Beach in East Yorkshire, is precariously perched on a cliff edge that is actively eroding. This part of the coastline between Withernsea and Hornsea is recognized as one of the UK's fastest-eroding areas.

Local historian Davey Robinson has observed the bunker's critical state, estimating it has only days remaining before succumbing to the sea. Photographs confirm its unstable position, with minimal remaining cliff support. The East Riding of Yorkshire Council has stated it has no statutory responsibility for the privately owned building but has urged the public to steer clear of the cliff top and the beach below.

The management plan for this section of the coast indicates 'no active intervention,' allowing natural erosion processes to continue. The Yorkshire Marine Nature Partnership reports an annual cliff retreat of approximately four metres in the region, a process accelerated by climate change factors such as rising sea levels and intensified storms, increasing the risk of landslips and erosion.