“East of the supergroyne, nothing is planned.”
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The BMP’s steering group met up a fortnight ago:
Beach Management Plan: latest meeting report – Vision Group for Sidmouth
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Although there still have to be a press release and the promised publication of minutes on-line:
Sidmouth and East Beach Management Plan and Scheme – East Devon
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Last week, the District Council’s cabinet considered a new report out:
Beach Management Plan: new report on rates of erosion – Vision Group for Sidmouth
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There has been some coverage in the press – which has been very mixed in its messaging.
The latest Herald has the steering group’s meeting on its front page, saying very positive things:
Sidmouth and Ottery breaking news and sport – Sidmouth Herald
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Last week it carried the latest dramatic cliff falls:
Massive cliff fall at Sidmouth, Devon. | Sidmouth Herald
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The Nub News has carried two stories – which seem contradictory, but aren’t:
The BMP currently looks to reducing erosion part way along the eastern cliffs by means of a ‘supergroyne’ and recharging the beach every ten years:
Latest on plans to protect Sidmouth’s cliffs from collapsing into the sea | sidmouth.nub.news
The Plymouth University study into erosion gives a worst-case scenario which is very alarming, but doesn’t take into consideration the mitigation offered by the BMP:
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However, as pointed out by a commentator, there is still a problem with this
Those proposed works only apply to points between Pennington Point and the supergroyne. Within that area, erosion will be reduced, although many people think by not enough…
East of the supergroyne, nothing is planned. Yet the tenfold increase in erosion is predicted to occur well to the east of the supergroyne, ( as much as to the west ) quickly engulfing houses in Laskeys Lane and Alma Lane.
More to the point, the supergroyne, whatever length it is, but especially if it is 120 metres long, will certainly mean significant terminal erosion. Thus making things worse than predicted by Plymouth University.
So, even if the supergroyne is effective, which many doubt, that will only mean that it will be outflanked and we will see differential erosion either side of the groyne.
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These images are from the official exhibition of 2016, which show where the proposed supergroyne would stop:
Information Posters – The Scheme At A Glance – East Devon
