Erosion victim warns ‘trauma tourists’ to stay away

A woman who lost her home at the start of the year due to coastal erosion has warned visitors to “stay away and don’t gloat”.

Shelley Cowlin, whose home of 48 years in Thorpeness, Suffolk, was demolished in January, said tourists turning up to witness other people’s suffering and even steal items from their gardens were “sick”.

Now living in a holiday let, which she said did not feel “like home”, the 89-year-old called on so-called “trauma tourists” to leave villagers in peace.

“We don’t want people relishing in glee at the tragedy of other people,” she said.

Following the demolition, Cowlin said there had been incidents of people claiming they were her gardener, or even her grandchildren, and pinching things.

“We had one fellow deciding to remove my ornamental flower pots and then another guy decided he was my so-called gardener and he was not. I have a very nice gardener and it was not him,” she said.

“I don’t understand the mentality. I really do feel they must be a bit peculiar.

“Why do you want to take photographs of houses that have been demolished?

“It’s just not on.”

Four homes have been already torn down this winter due to erosion, with six more already starting to be demolished on Monday.

A meeting organised by Suffolk Coastal’s Labour MP Jenny Riddell-Carpenter was attended by more than 150 people, where short-term solutions and next steps to protect the coastline were discussed.

East Suffolk Council has 48 miles (77km) of coastline and spent £750,000 on maintaining sea defences last year.

The local authority said it was continuing to support homeowners who are faced with having their homes demolished.

A spokesperson said: “This is an incredibly difficult time for homeowners facing demolition and for all Thorpeness residents. We would urge people to be considerate to the local community and refrain from visiting the affected area wherever possible.”

Cowlin added that she would not be capable of visiting the site of her demolished home.

“I’ll never go up that road again ever,” she said.