Location
Situated
approximately 3km south of Hornsea lies the village of Mappleton.
Supporting approximately 50 properties, the village has been
subject to intense erosion at a rate of 2.0m per year, resulting
in the access road being only 50m from the cliff edge at its
closest point.
Geology
Mappleton
lies upon unconsolidated till. This material was deposited by
glaciers during the last ice age 18,000 years ago.
Coastal
Features
The two
rock groynes at Mappleton have helped develop wide and steep
sandy beaches.
Coastal
Management
In 1991
two rock groynes and a rock revetment were built, as a consequence
a substantial beach accumulated between the groynes halting
erosion. However, further south the rate of erosion has increased
significantly. This is because material which is being carried
south is not being replaced (it is trapped within the groynes).
Therefore there is no beach to protect the cliffs. Even during
a neap tide ( a tide which is 30% less than the average tidal
range) the sea reaches the base of the soft cliffs and erosion
occurs.