Britain's seaside towns 'swallowed by the sea' - 5 iconic hotspots that could disappear by 2050
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Some of Britain's favourite seaside destinations could be underwater by 2050, according to new warnings. Rising sea levels mean a number of popular coastal holiday hotspots may be lost to the sea, projections say, along with a few places further inland. Research from Climate Central suggests that towns in East Anglia could be among the hardest hit, while London is also expected to feel the effects, with the River Thames potentially encompassing a much wider area. Coastal defence schemes are already in place along the Thames and across parts of the UK to tackle rising sea levels and prevent potential damage - though campaigners are calling for more to be done.
Weston-Super-Mare is one seaside destination which could be doomed by the rising tides, reports MyLondon. Located on the coast of the Bristol Channel, this beach town draws nearly 750,000 visitors annually - but in 27 years, it's predicted that the entire beach and large parts of the surrounding areas will be lost to the sea. It's one of several towns in this area expected to be hit by rising sea levels, reaching as far north as Gloucester.
The beaches of East and West Wittering in the Chichester district of West Sussex are also projected to be impacted by rising sea levels. West Wittering tends to attract bigger crowds, particularly in the summer, but both offer spectacular views out to sea - particularly at low tide when miles of sand are exposed.
Another seaside town at risk is Poole, in Dorset. As well as its harbour and sandy beaches, Poole's seafront railway station is also included in the warning area covered in the latest projections, posing some difficult questions for the area's transport links in the decades to come. Further along the south coast, Portsmouth is expected to be severely impacted by rising sea levels. By 2050, it's anticipated that the majority of this popular beach city will be submerged, leaving only a small strip of land untouched by the tide.
