| People living on part of the south coast of England
face a serious problem. In 1993, the owners of a large hotel and of several
houses discovered,{{U}}0 (21) {{/U}}their horror, that their gardens had
disappeared overnight. The sea had eaten into the soft limestone cliffs{{U}}
(22) {{/U}}their gardens had been built. While experts were studying
the problem, the hotel and several houses disappeared altogether,{{U}} (23)
{{/U}}down the cliff and into the sea. Erosion of the white cliffs{{U}} (24) {{/U}}the south coast of England has always been a problem but it has become more serious in recent years. Dozens of homes have had to be{{U}} (25) {{/U}}as the sea has crept farther and farther inland. Experts have studied the areas most{{U}} (26) {{/U}}and have drawn up a map for{{U}} (27) {{/U}}people,{{U}} (28) {{/U}}the year in which their homes will be{{U}} (29) {{/U}}up by the hungry sea. {{U}} (30) {{/U}}owners have{{U}} (31) {{/U}}the Government to erect sea defenses to protect their homes. Government surveyors have pointed out that in most cases, this is impossible. New sea walls would {{U}}(32) {{/U}}hundreds of millions of pounds and would{{U}} (33) {{/U}}make the waves and currents go further along the coast,{{U}} (34) {{/U}}the problem from one area to{{U}} (35) {{/U}}. The danger is{{U}} (36) {{/U}}to continue, they say,{{U}} (37) {{/U}}the waves reach an inland area of hard rock which will not be eaten{{U}} (38) {{/U}}limestone is.{{U}} (39) {{/U}}, if you want to buy a cheap house with an{{U}} (40) {{/U}}future, apply to a house agent in one of the threatened areas on the south coast of England. You can get a house for a knockdown price but it may turn out to be a knockdown home. |