The chaos caused by a landslide is laid bare in these horrifying images of a family’s “forever home” slipping out of view.
Bit by bit, Dr Ralitsa Hiteva’s four-bedroom detached property is slowly nearing a cliff edge as it is battered by wind and rain. So far 25 metres have been lost from her garden and the swimming pool has all but been washed away as it blasted with torrential downpours.
Dr Hiteva, 41, bought the house in 2020 for £460,000 and has welcomed a Ukrainian family for the past 18 months. But last week she was handed an evacuation order demanding that they leave the home overlooking Old Roar Gill, St Leonards, Hastings, East Sussex.
Dr Hiteva, who lives with her husband and two pet dogs, said: “It was 9pm on Valentine’s Day and it was really windy and stormy. I heard the crunching sound of trees and I went outside. I went outside and there were cracks appearing on the floor, opening up around our feet. I raised the alarm.
Homeowners Ralitsa Hiteva and Gill Cluster (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)“There used to be a path there which lots of people used and children from a nearby school used it. The next morning I got up and it was even worse, parts of the patch were just gone completely.
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Google Earth image shows the lay of the land before the landslip (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)“From then onwards the landslide started developing very quickly. It ate straight through the bank, whole trees have gone. It’s eaten through 25 metres of our garden, about 25 trees, we used to have a swimming pool but half of it has gone now. Every day a little bit more goes.”
A swimming pool is among the property destroyed in the landslide in East Sussex (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)She added: “This was supposed to be our forever home. It’s so horrifying; it’s horrifying because you’re watching your home disappear every day. There are no words to describe it. People are just watching their homes disappear.”
Hastings Borough Council issued two Emergency Prohibition Orders to Dr Hiteva and another neighbour last week. The orders remain in place until the housing team is satisfied it is safe to return.
The property is slowly getting closer to a cliff edge as it is battered by wind and rain (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)A council spokesperson said a geotechnical assessment suggested the slippage had started on private land. It means residents will have to contact their insurance companies if they want help.
And Dr Hiteva is furious that she has been left to deal with the problem alone and claimed there had not been enough emergency support. She is living with family nearby and returning to the home each day to start packing their belongings.
Some local people have been forced to leave their homes (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)She said the council had failed to provide accommodation. Dr Hiteva, who is a senior research fellow at the University of Sussex focusing on climate change and infrastructure, said: “On days like this week, when there are winds and a lot of rain, the land disappears a lot quicker.
Ralitsa Hiteva who has had to leave her home (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)
Gill Cluster is now in discussions with Hastings Borough Council (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)“It’s hard because the council won’t do anything. Every time it rains, or if there’s a strong wind, people are going out to check what’s gone. The more trees that are washed away, the less stability there is in the area. The biggest shame is the reaction of Hastings Borough Council to the landslide.
The council had reportedly failed to provide accommodation (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)“They say it’s not their problem because it hasn’t happened on their land. And they gave us a Prohibition Order telling us to leave but did not give us any emergency accommodation. We have two dogs but the council won’t accommodate them and the Ukrainian family wants to stay with us, it’s not unreasonable.”
She added: “We’re still paying the mortgage. There are old people living nearby who are terrified. They’re worried they will never be able to sell their homes.”
Local residents say the landslide began on council-owned land - but the authority has denied this (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)Structural engineers drafted in to assess the cause of the landslide could take a month before they are able to give their report. Coun Julia Hilton, leader of Hastings Borough Council, said an emergency meeting had been scheduled for Wednesday.
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She said: “We understand that the landslip that occurred last week has had a devastating impact on several residents’ lives. Due to the considerable damage that was caused they have had to vacate their homes, and we are sorry to see the massive upheaval this has resulted in.
“We are continuing to review this situation and are on hand to answer questions and provide support where we can. We hope those invited to the meeting on Wednesday will all come along, so we can work together to address any concerns they may have.”
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