8. 10th June 2016 - 'Have your say on ways to prevent coastal erosion and flooding in Sidmouth'
As part of East Devon District Council’s work to reduce the risk of coastal erosion and flooding in Sidmouth, which is being undertaken through the Sidmouth and East Beach Management Plan (BMP), a number of measures for the future management of the coastline are now being proposed as the result of extensive research by the council’s consultants CH2M.
To help decide which could be the best options, the council is inviting you to come along, find out more and have your say on Wednesday 15 June at Kennaway House, Sidmouth EX10 8NG. Residents and businesses are welcome to drop in any time between 2pm to 7pm. There will be key officers from East Devon, as well as a representative of CH2M, on hand to answer any questions and to explain the options proposed.
The council is keen to gather comment from as many people in Sidmouth as possible, so it is important that both residents and businesses come and have their say by choosing their preferred option for Sidmouth Town and East Beach. Letters have already been sent out to the Sidmouth community inviting them to attend the consultation and flyers have been put up in public areas in Sidmouth.
Members of the BMP steering group have also been asked to spread the word and will also be considering the options at a meeting on 16 June and will feed into the process of identifying a preferred option.
For anyone who is interested in the consultation and the options, but who can’t attend the consultation, the consultation material and feedback form will be available in the Coastal Protection section of the East Devon website after 15 June, where they can download a feedback form. Alternatively, they can pick up a feedback form from the council’s reception at Knowle, Sidmouth.
For more information about the consultation and the BMP, please email: sidmoutheastbmp@eastdevon.gov.uk. Or read the Sidmouth Beach Management Plan Frequently Asked Questions online.
It is important to note that all feedback for this consultation must be received by Monday 4 July 2016.
John Golding, East Devon District Council’s Strategic Lead for Housing, Health and Environment, said:
We would like to hear the views of the community on the proposed options. Their feedback is vital and will help inform the decision making process. We are at a critical stage in the BMP project and are close to seeing the actual plan finalised, which is a vital step for the protection of Sidmouth both in terms of amenity and economy.
Proposed coastal defence options for Sidmouth Town Beach and East Beach
Option One: Sidmouth Town Beach
- Maintain existing defences
- Repair and shorten the wall at the east end of the beach, which directs the River Sid out to sea
- Maintain the amount of shingle on the beach by replenishing it
- Occasionally take the shingle that has moved along the beach and put it back where it came from
East Beach
- Construct a low level rock groyne east of the River Sid
- Occasionally take the shingle that has moved along the beach and put it back where it came from
Option Two:
Sidmouth Town Beach
- Modify the rock groynes at Bedford Steps, York Steps and East Pier Rock to make T-head groynes
- Repair/replace/shorten the wall at the east end of the beach, which directs the River Sid out to sea
- Maintain the amount of shingle by replenishing it
- Occasionally take the shingle that has moved along the beach and put it back where it came from
East Beach
- Construct a low level rock groyne east of the River Sid
- Occasionally take the shingle that has moved along the beach and put it back where it came from
Option Three:
Sidmouth Town Beach
- Modify the rock groynes at Bedford Steps and York Steps to make T-head groynes
- Remove East Pier rock groyne and a section of the wall at the east end of the beach, which directs the River Sid out to sea
- Place a slope of large boulders next to the seawall
- Maintain the amount of shingle by replenishing it
- Occasionally take the shingle that has moved along the beach and put it back where it came from
East Beach
- Construct a low level rock groyne east of the River Sid
- Occasionally take the shingle that has moved along the beach and put it back where it came from
Option Four:
Sidmouth Town Beach
- Remove the current rock groynes on the beach
- Construct more rock breakwaters out in the sea, similar to those already in place
East Beach
- Construct more rock breakwaters out in the sea, similar to those already in place
Proposed works at Jacob’s Ladder, Connaught Gardens and River Sid Western Wall
There are a number of works proposed to be carried out at Jacob’s Ladder, Connaught Gardens and the River Sid Western Wall, which people can comment on.
- At Jacob’s Ladder and Connaught Gardens the seawall, promenade and the sloping banks of rocks near the sea will be maintained. The shingle from the beach that ends up on the promenade will be put back onto the beach
- The River Sid Western Wall will be maintained until it requires replacement by a more substantial coastal standard wall