Footpath to popular beauty spot near Plymouth to open up again soon

It's been closed for several years due to landslide

A steep footpath to a coastal beauty spot near Plymouth that closed several years ago because of a landslide is to open again soon, but there’s no long-term guarantee it will remain so.

City councillor Chris Penberthy (Lab St Peter and the Waterfront) said repairs are being done on the footpath and steps to Jennicliff Beach but there is no permanent solution because the cliffs are eroding.

Plymstock Radford councillor Kathy Watkin (Con) asked the cabinet member for communities about the path after stating that she and fellow ward members had been trying to get it reinstated for a long time.

She said she was delighted to see some funding had been found in the council's budget for repairs but asked if it was “a patch up job” or something more long-lasting.

Over the last 10 years, access to the beach has been closed for long periods because of erosion by high seas and storm damage. Major repair work has been carried out during that time including £300,000 to install rock armour to protect the base of the cliff supporting a rebuilt path.

Cllr Penberthy said fencing had been replaced along the path, and steps and metal water channels are being installed to direct water away from areas most sensitive to erosion.

He said signs would warn people of the uneven surface and that the steps were accessible at the public’s risk.

“They are coming back into use, but we are asking people to take extreme care when using them,” he said.

He added: “If you would like to stop the rain, wind and sea, then it’s a long term solution. We are trying to maintain access for as long as we can. However, the cliffs are eroding and at some point it will no longer be feasible for us to have a staircase there. We cannot guarantee stairs to Jennicliff on a long term basis."

Jennicliff is a small pebble beach popular with residents and has good views of Plymouth Sound.