“… and will report back at the next BMP advisory group in July.”
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Devon Live has carried dramatic photos and video of several cliff falls over the past fortnight or so:
Sidmouth beach cliff fall caught on camera leads to warning for Bank Holiday tourists – Devon Live (29 May)
Dramatic video shows another cliff fall in Sidmouth as huge dust cloud appears – Devon Live (5 June)
Four colossal cliff falls at Sidmouth beach – Devon Live (10 June)
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This has provided context for the ongong Beach Management Plan for the Eastern Cliffs – and Daniel Clarke writes in the Nub News with a reminder of where things are at.
[And yet the headline writer for the piece seems to get the wrong end of the stick – as there might well be a ‘change’ to the Plan, as the article makes very clear.]
Earlier this year East Devon District Council’s cabinet voted to put the chosen scheme on hold and explore other possible options, now that the project is eligible for more Government funding.
A spokesman for the council said:
“Work on the Sidmouth and East Beach Management Plan (BMP) scheme continues. It aims to reduce the risk of flooding to Sidmouth by maintaining the standard of defences along Sidmouth beach and to reduce the rate of erosion to the cliffs east of the town, and therefore the rate of exposure of the east side of Sidmouth to coastal conditions.
“The EDDC Cabinet recently voted to pause the current working option to review other possible options now that the scheme is eligible for more Government funding. A sub-group is currently reviewing the scope for this and will report back at the next BMP advisory group in July. A temporary rock revetment on East Beach and planning permission for this will be explored if the new scheme means a delay to work starting.”
It will take up to six months for engineers and specialist consultants to review and assess the various options, and they will produce a report on whether to go ahead with the original preferred option or use the additional funding to pay for a different scheme which may be more effective.
No change to Sidmouth beach plan despite latest cliff falls | sidmouth.nub.news
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It is understood that the sub-group has recently met up to continue its review of the options – and that the Advisory group will indeed be meeting up next month.
Sidmouth and East Beach Management Plan and Scheme – East Devon
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photo: (from 2009) File: A recent cliff fall just east of Sidmouth – geograph.org.uk – 1540087.jpg – Wikimedia Commons