A TECHNICAL group has been set up to tackle coastal erosion at Pennington Point after a working party met on Monday.

Officers from the district and county councils and the Environment Agency will report back to the group at the end of June to come up with recommendations for a beach management plan, said Councillor Stuart Hughes.

He said the district council will continue to seek out other partners to contribute towards the plan.

This plan is set to cost in the region of �80,000 to produce and will cover the beaches at both Sidmouth and Salcombe.

Cllr Hughes said: “May I assure every-one, whether local or visitors, that Devon County Council will continue to maintain the Alma bridge as long as it is viable to do so.

“Let’s hope it’s not too long before a scheme can be agreed and implemented that will protect this important asset for the next 50 to 100 years.

“Someone at the meeting suggested closing the beach. However, I think that this should be avoided at all costs.”