Flood defence first for Sidmouth

Will waves breach glass?

A glass panel that's going up on Sidmouth seafront is the first time a flood defence system has been tested alongside a shingle beach in the UK.

The temporary structure goes up this week, mid-way between the York Street and Fore Street road junctions, in a position to ensure maximum exposure to the elements. The idea is to see how it performs as a form of coastal defence against winter storms. 

During storms, large waves can come over Sidmouth's sea wall. East Devon District Council says the existing splash wall does a good job stopping sea water flooding the town, but with a predicted sea level rise due to climate change, and more extreme weather, it will no longer stop flood water going into town, so it does need to be improved. In the south west, the government requires coastal projects to have a minimum allowance for 1.2m of sea level rise in the future.

The glass panel will stay in place until the end of April, and people can comment on the scheme on a nearby panel. The new defence, if built, will be placed where the existing low splash wall sits between the esplanade and the road. It is expected that this wall will need to be at one metre above the promenade to stop waves breaching it. 

Raising the height of the splash wall is one element of the Sidmouth and East Beach Management Plan’s preferred option, but they are looking at the whole breadth of the seafront and considering beach replenishment, periodic beach recycling, a new rock groyne on East Beach, raising the height of the splash wall, and repairs to the River Sid training wall.

Following the test, East Devon District Council will consider whether the glass panel is a viable solution.

Councillor Geoff Jung, East Devon District Council’s portfolio holder for the environment, says: "A single solid barrier would have a severe visual impact on Sidmouth’s promenade. It is anticipated that glass panels may well provide a solution to the required protection and not impede the visual aspect of the much loved and historic promenade. A specific requirement of the government funding for this scheme is that every element must be adhered to and delivered in its entirety. Therefore without the proposed splash barrier we will not receive any government funding."

Councillors Denise Bickley and Cathy Gardner, ward members for Sidmouth Town, Cllr Stuart Hughes, ward member for Sidmouth Sidford, and Cllr John Loudoun, ward member for Sidmouth Rural, say: "We, as ward members along with other councillors and the conservation team will want to make sure the defence does not harm the sea front or have a negative impact on tourism. Access to the esplanade will be an important consideration too, with gates opened and closed appropriately. We are very interested to see the results of this test, and to use the information gained to move the project forward."