Tourists are putting their lives at risk by posing for selfies at the edge of unstable chalk cliffs in East Sussex, despite numerous warnings about the dangers. Alarming images show visitors, including children, standing perilously close to the brink of Seaford Head, a 170ft cliff face known for its regular sections plunging to the beach below.
The landmark chalk cliff is riddled with tension cracks, a visible sign of its instability. East Sussex County Council has issued warnings emphasizing that the cliffs are extremely unstable and that thousands of tons of chalk fall each year. "People underestimate the risks they are taking," the council stated. Visitors are urged to stay at least five meters from the cliff edge.
The erosion also poses a threat to the historic Seaford Head Golf Course, which is situated atop the cliffs. The club is planning to relocate its famous 18th hole tee and 17th green as a safety measure due to repeated cliff falls. Simon Lambert, the course manager, noted that accelerating coastal erosion, exacerbated by extreme weather, has been a significant concern for years.
"It's for the safety of all users – golfers, walkers and anyone else using the site or the path – and to future proof the 18-hole course," Lambert said. He added that the increasing extremes of weather, both wet and dry, suggest this issue will continue, necessitating proactive management.
Part of the cliff face is also home to an Iron Age Hill Fort, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, which is also threatened by erosion. A significant collapse in 2021 led Historic England to place the fort on its Heritage at Risk register, with parts of it already having fallen into the sea. The golf club has been consulting with stakeholders, including South Downs National Park, Natural England, and Historic England, on plans to alter the course for safety and longevity.