Changes are being made to East Devon District Council's plan to prevent Sidmouth from coastal erosion.

At a meeting held on Wednesday, March 8, the advisory group agreed to a changed Beach Management scheme.

The scheme is funded from extra contributions from the town, District, County Councils, and other Government Agencies. However, there remains an estimated funding gap of £1.75m which is being underwritten by EDDC.

The new scheme will include:

  • On the Main Beach the construction of an offshore breakwaters/island similar to the two existing breakwaters, plus a 'beach recharge.' Existing beach levels will be increased using similar material dredged from offshore.
  • On the Esplanade and the Ham area, at the eastern end there will be a replacement splash-wall on the landward side of the existing road near the lifeboat station. West of that the existing splash way will be replaced with better foundations, and the wall rebuilt to approximately the existing height (but this will be reviewed in the detailed design).
  • The far eastern end of the Ham and river training wall will have remedial works carried out and an improved larger slipway, specifically to provide speedier lifeboat launching.
  • On East Beach there will be the construction of a 120m long “super groyne” using beach material dredged from offshore.

It was also agreed that a proposal for beach ramp at Chit Rocks will be incorporated.

Sidmouth town and district councillor John Loudoun told the Herald: "As a ward member with residents living in Cliff Road above the eroding East Beach cliffs, I very much welcome the fact that we now have broad local support for an agreed plan to deliver the District Council's largest and probably most challenging project that will defend the town and the East Beach cliffs from predicted rising sea levels."

Councillor Geoff Jung, chair of the Sidmouth Beach Management Advisory Group said: “I am really pleased that the group has supported the recommendation to move onto the next stage for this important and critical project.

“For the last four years I have been the Councillor overseeing this project and was told at the very beginning it was a challenge! It certainly has been! With the funding complexities, Covid lockdowns, escalating material costs and now the dramatic fuel costs rise, we are now finally providing Sidmouth and East Beach the protection they vitally need."