Family forced to sofa surf after landslip
Hastings Borough Council was made aware of the landslip at Old Roar Gill, St Leonards, on 15 February
- Published
A woman has been sofa-surfing for three weeks with her partner, two dogs and a Ukrainian refugee following a landslip in East Sussex.
Ralitsa Hiteva was forced to leave her home after the landslip at Old Roar Gill, St Leonards, on 15 February.
She said she felt her family had “fallen through the cracks” of the local services, with her home just four metres away from the slip.
Hastings Borough Council (HBC) said affected residents had been offered temporary accommodation.
Ms Hiteva said she had been looking for a larger, longer term rental to accommodate those who had been living in her house.
“We’ve exhausted everything in Hastings and now we’re looking at properties in nearby towns like Bexhill,” she said.
“Apart from being completely devastated as it has put us in an impossible position, I also feel extremely angry. We might never be able to return to our home.”
Ralitsa Hiteva's garden had been affected by the landslip
She was issued with an emergency prohibition order on 21 February.
“The conditions to lift the order are for us to carry out remedial work, clean up the area – but that's impossible,” she said.
“Unless they strengthen the banks of Old Roar Gill, no remedial work will be possible. We have to be out of house for as long as it takes them, if ever, to strengthen the banks.
“Our house is now on the edge of a landslide, and it has been so easy for us to have fallen through the cracks.”
She added that she and her affected neighbours were unsure if they would ever be able to get insurance, re-mortgage, move to a cheaper mortgage rate or sell their properties.
The cause of the landslip has not yet been determined, HBC said.
Council leader Julia Hilton said many residents felt that the council “lacked empathy”.
“I want to apologise to all those residents and promise that we will do better in the future.”
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- Published23 February
