Residents asked to help fund landslip next steps

Residents of Old Roar Gill had to leave their homes in March after the landslip

Residents who were hit by a landslide are being asked to help fund investigation works, following a decision by councillors.

At a council meeting on Wednesday, Hastings Borough Council agreed to pursue a shared costs approach.

This was called "option two" in meeting papers, and it was for investigation works needed to determine the next steps in addressing February’s landslide at the Old Roar Gill nature reserve.

The decision itself was made during a confidential session, due to what the council described as "information relating to financial or business affairs".

Works are said to be costly and time consuming

A short section of the meeting was held publicly where several councillors asked questions on the non-confidential section of the report.

Passing on questions from residents living next to Old Roar Gill, councillor Paul Foster asked officers what evidence the council had that it was not liable for the landslide.

The council’s chief legal officer Mary Kilner initially declined to answer the question in public session but after being pressed, she said: "What I will say is that the council’s insurers commissioned the report.

"In that report, it did not establish responsibility or liability for the cliff fall."

'High' costs

Ms Kilner said: "The actual area of the collapse is owned by the respective residents who live on that slope."

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, residents present at the meeting disputed the claims.

Further investigation works are understood to be both costly and time-intensive.

Just one element of these works, a groundwater monitoring regime, would take at least six months to complete.

The council has said these further investigation works would be needed before any remedial stabilisation works could take place.

The report also notes how the council’s insurer has indicated it will not accept further responsibility for the landslide unless legal liability is established.

The specific costs for the investigation works have not been made public, due to reasons of commercial confidentiality but a report considered by councillors describes these costs as "high".