Senior District and County councillor, Stuart Hughes, is calling for the whole town to unite and support the preferred Beach Management Scheme that received the green light to be worked up by the Beach Management Steering Group last week.

"A huge, very complex and time consuming piece of work was undertaken by the previous Conservative administration at EDDC in developing and delivering a Beach Management plan for the town, where many options were explored, town's people consulted and a preferred scheme agreed, this scheme got the green light to be worked up last week and the town now needs to get behind it," he said.

"We're in the last chance saloon, time is of the essence and all residents can get involved in helping design the raised splashwall element of the scheme which is needed to protect the highway asset and prevent the town and businesses from tidal flooding.

"I've secured a contribution of £500k from the County Council but that is conditional and in addition the Conservative administration at Devon county council is already delivering the new state of the art Alma Bridge at a cost of over £1m over the River Sid which depends on the planned coastal defence aspect of the scheme east of the Sid to protect it from the elements.

"It is now down to the new Independent administration at the Council to deliver the agreed plan, securing the £1.5m shortfall needed to enable it to proceed and complete the work that has already been completed on the BMP by the previous administration. There is no reason for them to delay on delivering on election pledges made to the people of Sidmouth given this is currently the only impediment to it happening."