A long-awaited solution to protect Sidmouth’s coastline has moved a step closer to completion.

An update from East Devon District Council (EDDC) today (Tuesday) on the town’s beach management plan (BMP) says that work on an important economic report, which will be central to the finished BMP, is now underway.

This comes after a recent appeal for residents to submit their historic photos, postcards and sketches of the coastline received more than 200 responses.

The responses will allow experts to chart the changing shoreline. The information will be compiled to in an important environmental report.

Today’s update also revealed a review of the existing management regime has also been started.

The study will compare how the current beach management practices are faring against the coastal processes.

Councillor Andrew Moulding, EDDC’s deputy leader and chairman of the BMP steering group committee, said: “I would like to thank the project team, Halcrow and the members of the Steering Group for all their hard work and assistance in the development of the BMP.

“It is tremendously exciting to have reached the fourth stage of this long and technically challenging coastal defence project – we are now only a short step away from being in a position where we can actually start to produce the BMP itself and provide a detailed plan for the short, medium and long-term management of the beach and cliffs.”