Jim and Betty are having problems getting house insurance because coastal erosion from the North Sea has accelerated near their home in recent years. The construction of sea defenses in the village of Mappleton 6 km south of their property has caused erosion rates to increase by 6 times on the unprotected land to the south. Last year, part of their garden shed fell over the eroding cliff edge. Insurance companies do not want to take on the risk of covering property that may fall into the sea due to accelerated coastal erosion.

1. Why are Jim and Betty having problems getting house insurance?
1. The cliffs along the Holderness 12. A large groyne has been built
coast are made of Boulder clay. using rock from Norway at
Mappleton.
2. Groynes are sea defences which 13. Boulder clay is more easily
stop sand moving down the coast eroded than harder rocks such as
helping a beach develop. chalk.
3. Jim and Betty retired and bought 14. Sea defences at Mappleton have
their bungalow 10 years ago, just caused erosion to be 6 times faster
South of Mappleton, outside the in the area to the South of the
village. village than 10 years ago.
4. Technical reports show that 45 15. Damage to property through
miles of sea walls need mending coastal erosion is classed as an act
along the Holderness coast. of God.
5. Erosion speeds up on either side 16. Twenty nine small villages have
of the area protected by defences. been lost to the sea in the past
1 000 years.
6. Jim and Betty’s garden shed fell 17. Longshore drift goes southwards
over the cliff edge last year. along the Holderness coast.
7. The caravan site that Jim and 18. The local authority spent £2
Betty used to visit before they lived million on coastal defences rather
here has had to close down because than re-routing the coastal road
it is too dangerous. away from Mappleton.
8. Jim fought for his country in the 19. If the sea takes away material in
war, now the North Sea is taking one place, it builds up new land in
part of the country away. another place.
SYGNET geography workshop

2. 9. During the war Mappleton was a 20. The beaches near Jim and Betty
cliff top look out point for enemy are very narrow.
ships.
10. Local residents complain about 21. The groynes have stopped
the litter school parties leave when erosion for the villagers of
they come to study the erosion Mappleton.
11. Some people believe we should 22. A wide beach is the best defence
not interfere with nature. against coastal erosion.
23. Jim and Betty’s garden is 20 M 24. Coastal defences are expensive
long. and councils can only pay for them in
areas where quite a few people live.
SYGNET geography workshop