What should happen to Happisburgh?

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What should happen to Happisburgh?

Happisburgh is a village on the east coast of England in Norfolk. The short stretch of coastline is being vigorously eroded by the sea. This is primarily because of the geology of the area - the rocks are soft and so are easily worn away by erosion and sub-aerial processes. The rate and amount of erosion is believed to be made worse by people in the area, and on a larger scale. Residents of Happisburgh have tried to stop erosion at one part of the coastline, however this has had a knock-on effect on places further down the coast. Also, global warming, a major factor causing sea levels to rise, is leading to greater erosion and flooding of coastal areas, notably Happisburgh.

There are several things that can be done to the Happisburgh coastline. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. To follow is a summary of five different options that Happisburgh Council has.

Hard engineering solutions - this involves building hard, solid protection along the coastline. It includes methods such as sea walls (big walls of concrete which reflect the waves), gabions (boulders and rocks bundled together in mesh cages to absorb