'Scientists should be more interested in saving people's homes than looking at sliding mud.' That is the view of one MP, who has spent years lobbying to save part of Kent's coastline, after a house fell off a cliff.

Gordon Henderson, who represents Sittingbourne and Sheppey, said he felt "desperately sorry" for those living in Surf Crescent, Eastchurch, after the weekend's landslide and that he would continue to try and get something done to stop the eroding cliffs.

"I feel desperately sorry for the little community that live in Surf Crescent," he said.

"I feel, particularly, because I'm their neighbour and I've been dealing with them for a number of years to try and resolve the problem of the eroding cliffs there.

"To see such a devastation for one house and also, of course, putting even more houses at threat, it really is quite upsetting."

When asked what he could do to help, Mr Henderson said: "It is very difficult.

"There's no point in me giving people false promises.

"I have been trying for as long as I can remember to try and get something done to stop the eroding cliffs, trying to get something done to protect their homes.

"I've raised it in parliament, on a number of occasions, I've met with successive ministers, I've met with Natural England and I've come up against a brick wall because, the problem is, the erosion of the cliffs is covered by a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) category and, until I can get that removed, there is nothing I can do because Natural England have made clear, both in writing and verbally, that they will oppose any plan or any proposal to stop the erosion of those cliffs."

He added: "It is the actual erosion of the cliffs that is of scientific interest. I think that scientists should be more interested in saving the people's homes than looking at sliding mud.

"I have raised this, in those terms, in parliament and I will continue to do so."

Yesterday, Mr Henderson asked the Leader of the House of Commons if he could find time for a debate on the decision by Natural England to object to any proposal that would stop the erosion of cliffs on Sheppey.

He added: "I warned Natural England of the likely consequences if nothing was done to solve the problem, but my pleas for a change of policy fell on deaf ears.

"Its refusal to act has resulted in a family’s home crashing into the sea, leaving them with nothing more than the clothes on their backs.

"In addition, 10 other families have been evacuated because their homes are in danger. They, too, could lose everything that they own.

"My hope is that a debate on the Floor of the House might embarrass Natural England into changing its mind, and allow something to be done to help my constituents, who feel abandoned by the authorities."

Jacob Rees-Mogg thanked Mr Henderson for raising the "deeply distressing matter" in the House.

He said: "It is hard to think of anything worse than having to move out of one’s house, or being left just with the clothes that one was wearing at the time one’s house fell into the sea, because something had not been done that would have prevented that from happening.

"I therefore share my honourable friend’s concerns about the effect of coastal erosion on seaside communities, particularly those in his constituency."

He added: "I point out that the environment secretary will be in the House to take questions on June 25, which I believe will be a useful opportunity to address the matter to the Secretary of State, but my honourable friend is right to use the procedures of this House to ensure that quangos are held to account, as well as government ministers directly."

Mr Rees-Mogg said he would submit a question in the ballot for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) questions on June 25 and would also be applying for a Westminster Hall debate to raise the matter again.

Swale council said two of the four households affected by the cliff collapse had been moved to a holiday park close to their properties and those from another were in temporary accommodation in Minster - but the authority was still hoping to get them closer to their home.

Emma Tullett and her family, who lost their home, have accepted the offer of a house on Sheppey as temporary accommodation.

The council also said it was waiting for a survey report on the stability of the cliff, which is expected to take a few days.

Natural England has been approached for comment.

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