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‘Last Christmas’ for house
Local artist Kane Cunningham at the property picture by Ross Parry
A HOMEOWNER is preparing for his “Last Christmas” at a bungalow which is just eight feet away from falling into the sea due to massive coastal erosion.
The semi-detached two bedroom property at Knipe Point was worth £160,000 just two years ago, but after huge landslips hit the area the house was put up for sale for just £3,000.
Last Friday the Evening News reported that an extra 20ft of land at Knipe Point had slipped away in the past few weeks.
Even at that knock-down price it attracted few offers until enterprising local artist Kane Cunningham spotted it and saw it as the ideal temporary studio and blank canvas.
He has filmed spectacular sunrises, used the now tiny garden to paint stunning landscapes and has even drawn on the walls of the house before it will plunge hundreds of feet down to be resigned to the North Sea.
To show how precarious the property’s situation is, on Friday, residents woke to find another 20 feet of land had collapsed.
But Mr Cunningham, 49, is determined to bring some festive cheer to the area and has put up a 6ft Christmas tree for what he is sure will be the last time.
He said: “It could go at any time – tonight, in three days or in three months.
“This latest incident shows what we are dealing with and how serious the situation is – the house might not even see Christmas and the tree would plunge hundreds of feet. The situation is worsening by the day.
“I couldn’t resist buying the tree, I doubt there will be a more picturesque or unlikely location for a Christmas tree in the whole of the UK. I would certainly be very surprised if it made it to another Christmas, but I wanted to try and make the most of the house because I will miss it when it’s gone.
“This reminds you that nature is something you have to respect, it had laid dormant over the summer, leading everyone in to a false sense of security.
“Over the last year it has been an ideal studio and blank canvas for me – where else would I be able to paint directly on to the walls?
“It’s a true live art project which I’ve titled ‘The Last Post’.
“It also represents to me all sorts of ideas to do with the credit crunch and mortgages and the environment.
‘It’s the perfect site – a stark reminder of lost dreams, financial disaster and threatening sea levels. It’s global recession and global warming encapsulated.”
Other than its location, the property is in full working order with running water, electricity and is furnished with a sofa and dining table.
Mr Cunningham even held a ‘Last Supper’ at the house earlier this year – including former cabinet minister Clare Short – to toast the property and also discuss climate change.
He added: “The bottom line is that Knipe Point is a story of human misery, but we want to get something more creative and positive out of it.”
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Weather for Scarborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 8 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
coastwatcher
Thursday, December 23, 2010 at 02:01 PMI rushed over to see the iconic tree, but no sign of it. A local told me that it had been there only for the 10 minute photoshoot. The residents have erected their own communal tree with lights, and this is most cheering.
That bloke in the pub
Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 08:27 PMSad that someone who styles himself an "artist" is so desperate for publicity. If you have too much money, consider giving some of it to charity, other than that just get over yourself.
DarrenTwentyfourhourtrucker Trapps
Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 04:26 PMMr Cunningham wants to be careful, if the tree falls down the cliff SBC may well pursue him for flytipping
Mr Do!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 01:23 PMCastles made of sand fall into the sea, eventually. Jimi Hendrix
coastwatcher
Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 12:51 PMIt seems that Mr Cunningham purchased the property for a knockdown price with a view to some quick publicity of which the 'last supper' was part. In fact the cliff in front of his property has hardly moved since then, although there has been significant movement elsewhere. Mr Cunningham is now in it for the longer haul, including council tax and the site maintenance charges, not forgetting the eventual cost of demolition if NYCC issues a demolition order. The property could be OK for the next 30 years. On the other hand, in the worst case, demolition may be required within months, although this seems unlikely. Mr Cunningham is now, to a much lesser extent, in the same position as those residents of Knipe Point who do not know what the future holds for their homes. There is some justice in this, given that the 'last supper' and the 'last Christmas' have been a extrovert celebration of the very sad situation in which residents have found themselves. It could be that Mr Cunningham's property costs him quite a bit over the next few years, and what was intended to have a quick payback actually turns out to be the opposite. Perhaps we all need some sunshine to cheer us. How about an earthquake party in Haiti, or a demolition ball in Gaza?
amaroo
Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 12:19 PMKane Cunningham said, “The bottom line is that Knipe Point is a story of human misery, but we want to get something more creative and positive out of it.” Just goes to prove that not all that should be are in secure accomodation coming out with a statement like that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Local artist Kane Cunningham obviously has too much money.
Crossgates View
Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 11:45 AMTo expand on #1, the entire yorkshire coast is slowly eroding away, albeit quicker in some places rather than others. maybe a time traveller can tell us about scalby-by-the-sea and staxton bay!
spy
Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 10:55 AMBottom line at Knipe Point is don;t buy a house near an unstable cliff.
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