Last repairs begin to protect village at mercy of the sea
A community is to get new sea defences. But they will be the last, reports Daniel Clark
WORKS to protect one of Devon’s most exposed coastal communities from erosion are set to begin - with a warning it will be the last time work is carried out.
Coastal erosion in South Hams villages around Start Bay is nothing new, and predicted sea level rise and more frequent storm events increase the risk to these communities.
Following Storm Imogen back in 2016, which saw part of the beach lost at Beesands, South Hams District Council carried out works to the existing coastal defences to maintain the level of defence and to extend their life span.
At the time, a number of stone baskets were buried at the edge of the village green to enable future erosion levels to be monitored, and just four years later, the baskets have now become exposed.
While no further external funding is available to support work in this location, South Hams District Council has taken the decision to fund a 70m extension of the existing defence situated in front of the village green.
These works are due to start in the next few weeks, however, it is very likely these works will be the last defence works undertaken by the Council at this location.
It is hoped these works will provide more time for the community to prepare for a future without coastal erosion intervention works and there will be further public awareness and community engagement sessions to help the community understand how they can adapt to the coastal change process.
Cllr Hilary Bastone, South Hams executive member for beach management: said: “Coastal erosion is not an easy thing for any of us to accept or predict. For the people who live in an area or visit regularly, it can be heart wrenching to see the coast disappear before their eyes.
“But, as we have seen in recent years along this coast, one big storm can result is a great deal of destruction, despite defence works in place and we are now heading into stormy season.
“At Beesands, we have decided that, while we all accept the coast will continue to recede, it would be beneficial to construct a further 70 metres of defences. We hope this will allow more time for the community to adapt to change. Sadly, this is very likely to be the last defence works we are able to do.”
The Council’s decision to stop coastal erosion intervention work in this area, aligns with the current shoreline management policies for coastal defence, which set out the management of the shoreline over the next 100 years.
Cllr Julian Brazil, South Hams District Council’s local Ward Member for Stokenham added: “’Beesands is a very special place in the South Hams. These works will protect the Village Green, houses and the access road. We don’t know what the weather will bring in the future but I’m delighted the Council is doing its best to protect our local communities for the now.”
The main works are then programmed to begin on January 4 and will take approximately eight weeks to complete.
Further along the coast the Slapton Line road that runs along the Slapton Ley, between the freshwater lake and the sea, has also been inundated by storms several times in recent years.
But after costly work to rebuild and realign the road in 2018, the Highways Authority, Devon County Council, has indicated further repairs would not be carried out if the route between Torcross and Dartmouth is washed away again. South Hams Council secured funding in 2019 to appoint an Adaption Manager to prepare for the loss of the road at some time in the future.
We hope this will allow more time for the community to adapt to change. Sadly, this is very likely to be the last defence works we are able to do CLLR HILARY BASTONE