Evaluation of social vulnerability to natural hazards: a case of Barton on Sea, England

Abstract

In recent decades, Barton on Sea, which is a small coastal town in the south of England, has been exposed to rapid coastal, climatic and socioeconomic changes. The area is vulnerable to natural hazards such as landslides, coastal and cliff erosion and wave-induced erosion. However, there is a dearth of consistent data on the state of the environment, the level of social vulnerability and the socioeconomic status of the town’s residents. This research bridges the gap in knowledge by identifying the intensity of Barton on Sea’s social vulnerability in current scenarios. Accordingly, a Social Vulnerability Survey experiment (n = 72) was carried out in 2017. The survey results showed that natural hazards, particularly coastal and cliff erosion, have a negligible impact on people’s income. Home insurance can be acquired for the majority of coastal properties without much difficulty. This research also revealed that social vulnerability is not necessarily associated with social inequality in all environmental and geographical circumstances, and no substantial evidence was found that economic inequality increases vulnerability to natural hazards. The communities of Barton on Sea are happy even though they frequently experience the effects of natural hazards. This study provides vital data about the socioeconomic life of the Barton on Sea population that is invaluable for decision-makers’ recognition of coastal areas that require intervention, and that can guide policy measures to reduce the risk and intensity of natural hazards in order to protect the coastal frontage in the future.