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.