Residents in West Shore Park worry about coastal erosion

A wall along the seafront at Walney's Earnse Bay collapsed into the beach on the evening of March 23. 

This was a section of wall which used to divide the old West Shore road access to the northern end Walney from the park. 

The current strategy for the section of the coast, outlined in a Cumbria County Council summary document published in November 2020, is for 'managed realignment.'

This means that a rock armour defence was installed along the frontage of the park and the rest of north Walney beyond the park will be allowed to erode. 

Looking up the beach towards West Shore Park. The field next to it now has little defence from the sea (Image: Newsquest)

This defence is temporary and is due to be removed after 20 years.

The document said: "It is assumed that this defence will be maintained. However, concerns raised regarding design may indicate a need for redesigning within the 20 years, subject to further monitoring." 

The photos show that the sea is now only metres away from some of the homes, and can now freely erode into an adjacent field. Residents argue that for now there is no accessible path from the park to north Walney, and in the long term it could put the area at risk. 

Ralph White, a resident at the park, said: "We were under the impression that when they put in the emergency pathway it was going to be a sustainable walkway through but in reality it is just a field. 

READ MORE: Wall along the sea front in Walney collapses into the beach

"I can't think anybody will be rushing to buy any chalets. 

"We have been there six years and the difference is amazing. You could get campervans along that pathway to the area. People used to camp out overnight."

Mr White said that the erosion 'won't bother us personally' but they would like to pass the home to his children.

"It is not a huge amount of money but it is something for your kids to sell. We don't want them to become worthless," he said.

The water has dug into the foundations of what was the West Shore Road access (Image: Newsquest)

"It may get to the stage where we won't even be able to get them insured."

Another resident from West Shore Park, Sheila Stephenson said: "It's at the back of the park, it's going to be close. Who does care? Nobody." 

Both residents compared the coastal erosion at Walney to successful schemes in Morecambe and Grange. 

What the road access used to look like before a storm ten years ago (Image: Newsquest)

Ms Stephenson said the money that will be spent on the Earnse Bay Outdoor Centre as part of a grant from the government for the Barrow Town Deal would have been better spent on sea defences. 

The Mail contacted Cumbria County Council. A spokesman said that the money was ringfenced and could not be used for that purpose.