New Sidmouth cliff erosion survey announced, following possible changes to sea defence plan

A further survey of the crumbling cliffs at Pennington Point is to be carried out, following the news that Sidmouth's coastal defences scheme is likely to be delayed.

This delay would be for positive reasons. Last week the district council announced that changes in the scheme's eligibility for funding could mean more money is available, from the Environment Agency and other bodies.

This would open the door to a better coastal defence scheme, previously thought to be unaffordable, and the district council's Cabinet will be asked to pause the current plans so that the other, more expensive options, can be explored.

But if a different and more costly scheme is adopted, construction work probably wouldn't start for about four years.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, a member of the Beach Management Plan Project Advisory Group, has announced that he's going to fund another cliff survey from his locality budget, to see how much erosion has taken place lately.

He's concerned that if the cliffs continue to crumble, and the sea defence work is postponed, the new Alma Bridge and Hangar footpath could be at risk.

There's already a proposal to put a temporary rock revetment at the base of the cliff to help reduce erosion, if the measures in the original plan are shelved in favour of a more ambitious coastal defence scheme.

Cllr Hughes said he'll call for the district council to use 'emergency powers' to make this happen, if the results of his survey indicate a risk to the bridge and footpath.