Neighbours of a £200,000 ‘dream’ home that plunged over a cliff edge still have no idea when they can return to their homes three weeks after the collapse.
The ground beneath Emma Tullett’s home in Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, started to crumble and her entire house crashed down a 35ft rock face.
Emma Tullett and her family had to flee their house, which is ironically called Cliffhanger, on May 29.
The ground beneath a £200,000 home in Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, started to crumble and her entire house crashed down a 35ft rock face (above)
Ed Cane, 66, (pictured) whose home backs onto the house which collapsed into the sea, has no idea when he can return to his property after he was evacuated
Fifteen people from four households had to move into temporary accommodation after 20 houses were originally evacuated.
Neighbour Ed Cane, 66, who also had to evacuate his house, said he still has no idea when he can return to his property.
Mr Cane, whose home backs onto Ms Tullett’s house, is living in a caravan in Minster, Sheppey, with his wife Lynn and their dog, Daisy.
Speaking on Saturday, he said: ‘It’s now been three weeks since this first started happening.
‘We heard from Swale council yesterday and, although they did give us some news, I honestly don’t think they’re moving quick enough.’
Mr Cane said he and his wife were told they were able to visit their property, but are still not allowed to move back in permanently.
Emma Tullett’s (pictured) ‘dream’ home in Eastchurch collapsed into the sea on May 29 and Ms Tullett and her family had to flee their house
Twenty homes were originally evacuated and fifteen people from four households then had to move into temporary accommodation
He said: ‘The council said they didn’t think our house was in any immediate danger. We’re allowed to visit now but not sleep overnight yet.
‘That’s the first news we’ve had since the disaster happened and we’ve just got to get back to our house. These past three weeks, feel like three years.’
When Mr and Mrs Cane bought their home 11 years ago, the cliff edge was at least 120ft away from the bottom of their garden. Now the drop is just the other side of their garden fence.
Mr Cane said: ‘The council told us they’re going to put sensors in the cliffs to monitor the movement, before they make a decision on when we can move back in.
‘But when I asked them what sort of time-frame, they’ve got no idea what sort of time-frame, or when the monitors are actually going to be put in so, again, we don’t know too much about what’s going on. It’s a waiting game.’
The driveway of Ms Tullett’s home leading up to the front door disappeared and the whole front section of the house had no support underneath after part of the cliff slid towards the sea.
The lorry driver spent that night huddled in his Jeep Renegade with his wife Lynette, his sister Louise Ramsden and the family dog.
Mr Cane (pictured) is currently living in a caravan in Minster, Sheppey, with his wife Lynn and their dog, Daisy and cannot yet move back into his home (view from the property, pictured)
Swale council said a geotechnical survey has been completed and the authority is now planning how residents can return to their homes
Mr Cane said: ‘We just feel let down. It’s the lack of information we’re getting. I don’t think the council’s moving fast enough – this is a disaster, it should be moving quicker.
‘They’ve got to do something with that cliff edge, even if they put some big rocks down there to shore it up. It’s been three weeks and they haven’t touched it. They don’t need a survey to put safety measures in to shore it up a bit, even if it’s just temporary.’
Swale council said a geotechnical survey has been completed and the authority is now planning how residents can return to their homes.
A spokesman said: ‘The households affected by the cliff collapse at Eastchurch have received an update on the work taking place to decide if and when they may be able to return to their properties.
‘We have had an initial draft report on the geotechnical survey we commissioned, and we are now planning the next steps with the safety of residents being our top priority. This will involve reducing the cordon in place and looking further at monitoring systems.
‘There are still lots of further decisions to be made relating to the cliff itself. We will continue to support those affected, and will provide updates when we have them.’