Seaton rockfall cash could be approved

Jurassic Coast cliffs are at risk

A call for cash to help prevent delays to a major £2.2 million scheme aimed at protecting part of the Jurassic Coast has been approved.

The project at Seaton Hole has secured the funding needed to help reduce erosion at the East Devon town’s beach and help prevent cliff falls, but issues with the timing of the cash had arisen.

The process linked to government funding for the project risked delaying it by up to a year, which also raised the prospect of increased costs and further fundraising being needed.

But a request for £673,000 to plug the short-term funding gap has now been approved by councillors at East Devon District Council’s cabinet meeting.

Officers told councillors planning permission for the scheme had to be granted before the Environment Agency would release its pledged funding.

While the application is due to be considered by the plannning committee soon, it is uncertain when permission will be given, and therefore when the cash would arrive.

As such, the council’s temporary funding – which will be repaid when the Environment Agency’s money is released – will enable the council to purchase the 7,000 tonnes of rocks it needs for the scheme.

“I’m absolutely in full support of this,” said Cllr Nick Hookway (Liberal Democrat, Exmouth Littleham), whose cabinet portfolio tourism.

“From the perspective of tourism, this is important as the Jurassic Coast is a World Heritage Site and is part of the South West Coast Path, so we need to maintain it.”

Cllr Dan Ledger (Independent, Seaton) added that he “really supported the scheme, while Cllr Paul Hayward (Independent, Axminster) agreed.

“If you live in Seaton, you realise the extent of what is happening and people on Old Beer Road have been suffering from this for over a decade and it is a part of what makes Seaton, Seaton.

He added that providing the temporary cash was a “no-brainer”.

Seaton’s cliffs and the surrounding area are known to be particularly treacherous, with one major landslip at Seaton Hole in 2012 garnering national press attention.

Just two months ago, the Beer Coastguard Rescue Team urged people to stay away from the cliffs east of the River Axe in Seaton, near the Axe Cliff golf course – around two miles from Seaton Hole.

The district council announced last year that the Seaton Hole coastal protection scheme was underway after a proposal had been submitted to the Environment Agency in 2021.

It stated at the time the plans would better protect 41 homes, businesses, and the town’s coastline from erosion, stating that the section between Seaton Hole beach and the Check House was “critical to protect”.

The project is technically overseen by the South West Flood and Coastal (SWFaC) service, a joint initiative between East Devon and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.

Funding has been secured from SWFaC and East Devon, as well as the Environment Agency, Devon County Council and Seaton Town Council.