Lifeboat rescues suspended over landslide risk

A lifeboat service has suspended all rescues with immediate effect after a structural survey of its station found serious safety concerns.

RNLI Sheringham in Norfolk said the decision followed an independent structural engineer inspection of its lifeboat building just before Christmas.

Its position against a cliff indicated the station building may be at the end of its lifespan and, combined with what was already known about the land behind it, caused increased safety concerns.

A spokeswoman for the RNLI said the decision to suspend operations was taken in the interests of safety, as the cliff face was in danger of sliding forwards.

Search and rescue cover will be instead provided by Wells and Cromer lifeboat services, Sheringham's flanking stations.

Anna Heslop, RNLI regional operations lead, North and East, said: "We have taken the incredibly difficult decision to suspend all activity, including lifesaving operations, at Sheringham RNLI immediately.

"The station backs onto steep land that may be at risk of sliding forward.

"We had an inspection on our lifeboat station building and we've responded swiftly to initial findings about its condition.

"Keeping our people safe is our number one priority, it takes courage to speak up about what could go wrong, and that's what happened here – but we don't underestimate just how hard this is for our Sheringham volunteers who are, rightly, proud of their part in the RNLI's purpose of saving lives at sea."

Ms Heslop also confirmed that a monitoring system had been in place, but further analysis on 30 January with a wider group of estates experts found the risk to safety "was deemed too high to mitigate and manage by the monitoring system alone".

She added: "The expertise offered on 30 January tells us that we must keep our people out of the station for now and have further work done to fully understand the condition of the building."

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