Dangerous stretch of coastal footpath at Cley in Norfolk

The parish council at Cley, near Holt, first reported the dangerous dip at the bottom of a flight of steps leading straight onto the main A149 coast road as it enters the village in 2022.

Norfolk County Council said the work was due to start on Tuesday, weather permitting.

Richard Allen beside the dangerous step on the coast path at Cley (Image: Chris Bishop)

"You've only got a miss your step and you'd be head first into the main road here," said the parish's vice-chairman Richard Allen.

He added there had been lengthy discussions over whether the Environment Agency, which owns the flood bank the steps lead down from was responsible for maintaining them or the county council.

"They've just been arguing the toss over emails," he said. "The problem we're having is getting it repaired by one or two of the agencies that have got their fingers in the pie."

The dangerous step on the coast path at Cley (Image: Chris Bishop) He added the county council had contacted the parish clerk again in recent days to confirm the path was on its "to-do list", after the Environment Agency said the path was the council's responsibility.

A county council spokesman said: "We have scheduled repairs to two sets of steps on the Norfolk Coast Path in Cley for Tuesday.

"Before these repairs could be carried out we were required to obtain consent from the Environment Agency, which we have now received, allowing works to proceed."

The steps lead up onto the flood bank, with views of the magnificent Cley Windmill (Image: Chris Bishop) Alex Rousso, who runs the Artemis Coffee Shop next to the path has attempted to patch up the dodgy step.

"It's like a sump that fills up with rain," he said. "People walk on it, the bottom of their shoes pick up more mud and take it away."

Mr Rousso has dug a channel next to the dip to help drain away rain water.

The steps lead down onto the main A149 coast road as it enters Cley (Image: Chris Bishop) He said the step began to deteriorate soon after the part along the flood bank was refurbished three years ago.

"The EA owns the land but the council manages the path," he added. 

A bus passes close to the eroded section of path at Cley (Image: Chris Bishop)

The stretch of the coast path draws thousands of walkers each year to enjoy views across the reedy River Glaven estuary towards the picturesque Cley Windmill.