Beach huts at Hordle Cliff in Milford destroyed after battering by storms Herminia and Eowyn
HUGE waves and flooding caused by storms Herminia and Eowyn have seen at least a dozen beach huts destroyed at Hordle Cliffs in Milford.
Footage of waves breaching a sea wall and pounding a row of 16 huts was sent to the A&T by reader Chris Mabey on Tuesday morning, after he saw the destruction while walking his dog Archie.
Chris said: “The huts looked as if they would be completely destroyed by the pounding they were getting from the sea. Those beach huts are an iconic part of that section of the coast.”
The beach huts are at Hordle Cliff east, near an area where 31 damaged and unsafe beach huts were removed by New Forest District Council in June last year
It is likely the huts were initially damage on the weekend when Storm Eowyn brought heavy rain and gusts of up to 70mph. This was followed by further heavy rain and strong winds as Storm Hermania battered the exposed structures.
Chris added: “I know that some beach huts have been in the same family for several generations so it is very sad to see the destruction.”
Writing online, one resident commented: “I watched huge chunks of cliff crumbling into the sea this morning on the walk from Barton to Milford.”
As reported, the section of the coastline where the beach huts are is no longer actively defended by New Forest District Council. Beach hut owners pay an annual licence fee to NFDC of between £662 and £956 for their hut at Hordle Cliff, but are responsible for all repairs and maintenance.
In the past five years around 70 beach huts have been lost to the elements or removed by NFDC because they were no longer safe to use.
Speaking on Tuesday afternoon an NFDC spokesperson said: “Our officers are assessing the area to fully understand the impact of the recent weather on the coast. We’d like to ask beach hut owners to bear with us while assessments take place in safe conditions.
“We will be in contact with any affected hut owners once we have a better understanding of the situation. We advise owners against visiting their beach hut until conditions have settled and it is safe to do so.”
A council spokesperson previously told the A&T: “The shoreline management policy for this frontage is set as managed realignment, setting an expectation that there will continue to be change within this undefended section where measures may be introduced (subject to funding) that slow but do not stop erosion.”
