Great Yarmouth's MP has voiced his support for the ongoing efforts by Hemsby campaigners as they prepare to fight for legislation change to try and save their village from the sea.

Sir Brandon Lewis said he continues to liaise with members of Save Hemsby Coastline (SHC) and supports their efforts, including their petition which is being prepared to be hand-delivered to Downing Street in the next several weeks.

Sir Brandon's support comes as SHC chairman Simon Measures said the group will continue the fight in 2024, despite the village "losing a lot of battles" in the past 12 months.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Sir Brandon Lewis. Picture - PASir Brandon Lewis. Picture - PA (Image: PA)Sir Brandon said: "As 2024 progresses I look forward to continuing to support the efforts of Great Yarmouth Borough Council and Coastal Protection East to support the village of Hemsby, as well as other communities within the borough as I always have.

"I am in the process of finalising arrangements with SHC and the police at Number 10 in order that the petition can be presented.“

Mr Measures said both SHC and Hemsby Independent Lifeboat - whose offshore rescue remains off service due to the collapse of the slipway by Hemsby Gap at the end of December - were "delighted" to be working with Sir Brandon.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: SHC chairman Simon Measures. Picture - Denise BradleySHC chairman Simon Measures. Picture - Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley)"We hope this is the start of discussions about changing the criteria used to determine whether or not Hemsby and other coastal villages like us, receive much-needed sea protection," said Mr Measures.

"As all coastal areas are a mixture of public and privately owned land, and in the case of Hemsby, a mixture of freehold properties and land owned by the Watling Trust, we hope that Sir Brandon can use his influence as our local MP to open a dialogue with all the stakeholders, both private and public. 

"But the key issue still remains that without a change to the financing criteria, even if the landowners had promised a million pounds, we would still not receive the overdue sea defences."

Why isn't Hemsby eligible for funding?

Great Yarmouth Mercury: The recent collapse of the Marrams access road led to the demolition of five homes. Picture - Denise BradleyThe recent collapse of the Marrams access road led to the demolition of five homes. Picture - Denise Bradley (Image: Denise Bradley)

Following years of campaigning, Hemsby was granted a licence to build a £15m rock berm to protect clifftop homes and maintain the area as a thriving seaside resort last March. 

However, in October, the plan fell through after it was revealed the multimillion-pound scheme did not meet the government's funding criteria.

In a joint statement from Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Coastal Partnership East (the council’s coastal management team), Sir Brandon Lewis, and Norfolk County Council, the village was told it did not qualify as the proposed work - to be primarily funded by a Flood Defence Grant-in-Aid (FDGIA) from the government - only applied to areas "where hundreds of homes are at risk".

"Currently, the proposed scheme for Hemsby doesn’t qualify for sufficient government funding to allow it to progress," the statement read.

‘’It is also the case that the proposed scheme for Hemsby would only serve to slow down erosion in the area, it would not stop it entirely."