Built on sand

Image: © Andy Waddington Taken: 1 Nov 2021

The site of the former Steetley Magnesite works is now a housing development, with more still under construction further right than this view. Just before World War II when the works were opened, very few were aware of the impending change in climate that is the result of mankind's emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and no-one had really thought through the implications, so, since sea water was the raw material, the location would have seemed eminently sensible. Now, decades later, no-one can fail to be aware of climate change and the fact that sea levels are rising worldwide and will continue to rise for many years yet no matter how effectively action is taken to limit temperature change. You'd think the fact that Hartlepool has recently had to spend millions on sea defences just a couple of miles away at the Headland to protect older housing would mean that their planning department would have an inkling of the future impact. But here we see houses built on sand just a few metres above present sea level calling into question the whole idea of "safe as houses". These ones are unquestionably temporary and will no doubt succumb to the combined volume of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets being turned into sea water, pushed inland by storm surges as the climate gets wilder. I can imagine that, just like the flammable cladding on tower blocks, developers will not end up paying the costs of their negligence, householders will be bankrupted and the whole lot will end up in the sea. I cannot imagine what would possess anyone to spend real money on such a residence. Even in biblical times it was known to be foolish to build on sand...

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