Fairlight Cove Village sits on 50m high cliffs running between Hastings and Cliff End in East Sussex. In the late 1980s there was a dramatic increase in cliff loss along the majority of the frontage leading to the demolition of five houses and evacuation of others. A successful application was submitted under the Coastal Protection Act 1949 in line with the recommendations in the Beachy Head to South Foreland Shoreline Management Plan which states "Hold the Line" for 50 years and managed realignment thereafter.The scheme involved the installation of a rock berm and a groundwater well system used to reduce groundwater levels within the landslip area. This paper briefly covers the Scheme but the main aim is to present a case study of local resident involvement in a successful landslip remediation scheme and the issues involved with its continued success. In the face of limited government funding the need for residents support and active involvement has significantly increased if Fairlight Cove is to be protected. The aim is to outline the difficulty in obtaining funding to cover the costs of plant maintenance/replacement and the need for local community participation in maintaining the local environment, e.g. clearing drainage ditches, restrictions on planning etc. It also provides a case study of collaboration between volunteers from both the Village and the geotechnical community. This partnership has allowed access to professional guidance while providing educational and study opportunities for both University students and practicing Engineers.
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