An online petition to 'Say No' to a raised seawall in Sidmouth already has the backing of more than 280 people.

Plans to raise Sidmouth's existing 'splash wall' are one part of a proposed £9m beach management plan for Sidmouth.

The beach management scheme consists of adding a new rock groyne on East Beach, importing new shingle onto Sidmouth Beach, and East Beach, and controversially raising the existing splash wall to one metre above the promenade to contain wave overtopping.

A petition, started by local man Paul Foster, is calling for residents to demand an alternative to the raising of the sea wall. The online petition states: "The raising of the wall will destroy the openness and beauty of the seafront view, whereas correctly positioned rock armour along the vertical face of the Esplanade will absorb the wave energy and reduce the splash over."

"Please make your voice heard and say no to the raising of the Esplanade splash wall and demand proper wave dampening rock armour along the Esplanade face instead."

Design details of the raised splash wall, which a number of councillors have expressed concerns over, will be the subject of further work involving the Sidmouth Beach Management Scheme Steering Group. East Devon District Council currently anticipates that the wall will need to be at least one metre above the promenade to contain wave overtopping.

At a meeting at the end of last week councillor Geoff Jung, East Devon's Environment Portfolio Holder, said: "The protection of the seafront of Sidmouth is important not only to the town, but also to Devon and nationally, as it is recognised as a jewel of a seaside resort with many fine Regency and Victorian buildings."

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council's representative on the Steering Group and Cabinet member for Highways Management, added: "While I am delighted that at long last there was almost unanimous consensus to move ahead with the preferred option around the table, there is still a lot more work to be done with design and funding sources to be identified and secured before submitting the scheme to secure the much needed government finance."

He added: "From a County Council perspective, the indicated funding of up to £500,000 depends on the raising of the splash wall to maintain the Highway asset and this is one aspect of the scheme that local residents can play an important part in designing."

If you would like to view the online petition click on the red button below.