Demolition of former coastguard house at Birling Gap
 
First stage of the demolition process of house nearest to the sea in what was a terrace of seven former coastguard cottages. This house was left 15 cm. from the edge of the cliff due to recent cliff falls. Average rate of cliff erosion at Birling Gap is 0.7 metres per year though the cliff falls usually happen in a sudden collapse. English Heritage, who own the land, say that the cliffs have undergone the equivalent of 7 years worth of normal erosion in the two months since January and that at least 3 metres has been lost in that time. Demolition started 17 March and will take about a month to finish. The Coastguard Cottages were built between 1800 and 1820 and this is the third to be destroyed with ones nearer the sea being demolished in 1994 and the early 2000's. It is estimated that the next cottage will have up to 10 years before it too succumbs to coastal erosion. Across the car park from the cottages, the Birling Gap cafe's sun lounge and ice-cream parlour were demolished in February while the Birling Gap Safety Boat Association was lost its boathouse. Vulnerable buildings are being demolished as a safety precaution and so that falling masonry does not endanger the public.
Andrew Diack 2014