There have been at least eight landslides in Folkestone already this year.

So far, a hugely popular coastal park has been cordoned off – and one of the main routes from the town centre to the seafront, the Road of Remembrance, will remain shut until the summer.

Here, we look at what’s happened so far, why there have been so many cliff collapses – and what is being done to stop further landslides.

What’s happened so far?

While landslips have occurred in the past along The Leas in Folkestone, the scale and number over the past few months are causing concern.

There have now been nine so far this year, with another towards the end of 2023.

November 5 – Cow Path collapse

Not long after Storm Ciaran hit the county, the Cow Path, a well-used walkway above the Lower Leas Coastal Park, was hit by a mudslide.

Pictures taken on November 5 showed how the route had been rendered impassable.

January 24 – Further collapses along The Leas

On January 24 this year, there were further collapses along the Cow Path and railings were damaged on nearby Madeira Walk.

January 27 – first Road of Remembrance landslide

This collapse came less than a week after Storm Isha brought winds of up to 80mph to the coast.

On January 27, a number of trees fell from the cliff above the Road of Remembrance.

The road was closed and has remained so ever since.

According to Folkestone and Hythe District Council, there were two further smaller slips here during February.

Pictures showed how more trees had tumbled from beneath a clifftop house, backing onto the Road of Remembrance.

February 26 – debris falls onto chip shop

Towards the end of last month, vegetation and debris at the bottom of the Road of Remembrance fell down behind businesses on Lower Sandgate Road.

Among those affected was the Harbour Fish Bar – but manager Murat Karakartal told KentOnline he would be carrying on as normal despite the collapse.

March 2 – Madeira Walk landslide

The Lower Leas Coastal Park, which is hugely popular with families, particularly in the summer, has been cordoned off since the cliff below the Madeira Walk path collapsed on March 2.

Debris tumbled into the play area, leaving some parents concerned about whether it can be made fully safe.

One mum, Natasha Luetchford, told our sister TV station KMTV: “I bring my son here quite a lot so the thought of it happening while kids are playing here is quite a big shock and very distressing.

“It probably would put me off because it’s not safe and they’ve been happening everywhere so you don't know what's going on.”

March 3 – Sunny Sands tree slide

Further along the seafront, the moment a tree slid down a cliff towards walkers on the promenade by Sunny Sands was captured on camera.

The area was fenced off shortly after the incident as FHDC workers cleared the debris.

March 9 – Sandgate Riviera landslip

At the opposite end of the seafront, there was another landslip – this time at The Riviera in Sandgate.

Debris was left on the road near some coastal properties.

Why have there been so many landslides?

Folkestone and Hythe District Council says there appears to be no single cause for the landslips – and all of the following could be factors:

*Rainfall during February was very high.

*The ground - known as the Folkestone Formation - is a combination of medium to coarse grained sand with weakly cemented sandstones. This makes it prone to erosion and being unstable.

*The weight of trees during high winds may be weakening the stability of the cliff.

KentOnline spoke to Samer Bagaeen, professor of planning and resilient systems at the University of Kent, who agreed the wet weather is having an impact.

“I think the main reason behind some of the recent falls – just from looking at the geology and hydrology of the cliffs – is just too much rain,” he said.

“We have had one of the warmest Februarys but also one of the wettest Februarys on record and I'm sure there's something there that's causing the recent falls.”

Could there be more landslides?

Stephen West is one of many Folkestone residents who fear for the town’s coastal paths.

He said: “I’ve been expressing my concerns to the council for months and months.

“I fear that the Zig Zag path could be next. That path is the best accessible route and it’s supported by no more than house bricks and cement, it’s not made to support trees of that weight.

“These trees are evergreen and they’re being blown away in storm after storm. When these trees go they won’t snap, they will fall and take the whole hill with them.”

Professor Bagaeen says trees are generally a safer bet in holding things together, as opposed to causing things to fall apart.

As to whether the landslides will continue, he said: “If we have an unusually wet March and April the outlook will be very different compared to if they are very dry - it’s difficult to say where it’s going to go.

“The key, because we don't have short-term certainty, is long-term monitoring of what's happening. This could allow the authorities in question to respond quicker and more effectively to aid in maintaining public safety.”

Is climate change to blame?

Two of the landslides in Folkestone have followed particularly wild weather brought to the county by Storm Ciaran and Storm Isha.

Professor Bagaeen says if climate change is causing more extreme spells of weather, then we could see more cliff collapses in Kent.

He said: “If we say that this is because of climate change then I think the natural conclusions are things are going to happen to some of the very fragile cliffs in the county and it will probably continue to happen at an accelerated rate.”

What are the authorities doing to prevent future landslides?

Folkestone and Hythe District Council has commissioned an investigation known as a LIDAR survey, where a drone equipped with data collection technology will enable a detailed map of the ground conditions to be created.

The survey will cover land from the harbour and along the Road of Remembrance.

The data from the survey will be analysed alongside the results of an inspection of all the large trees on the coastal park cliff.

The council’s website says: “If areas are identified as at high risk of land slippage, trees may then need to be reduced in height to maintain the stability of the cliff.”

Meanwhile, vegetation has been cleared and tree height reduced on land owned by the council at the top of the Road of Remembrance.

Kent County Council, as the highway authority, is continuing to work in this area to enable the road to be reopened.

A spokesperson said: “Landslides along The Leas are historically not uncommon with shallow depth landslips occurring relatively frequently due to the geological makeup of the cliffs.

“Until we receive the reports from our geotechnical advisors, we cannot confirm our next steps – but various further actions are already being explored.

“Safety for the public and our workforce and contractors is paramount. Areas that the district council is responsible for will only be re-opened once work in the affected areas is completed.”