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Tuesday, August 05, 2008, 10:00
They say landslips in Sidmouth mean the rock-face is crumbling much faster than predicted, posing a potential danger to properties above.
Councillor Stuart Hughes said that six metres (20ft) of rock-face had been lost over recent years, and said the erosion had already reached a level not anticipated until 2011.
“It's very worrying. If we get a severe south-easterly (gale), then the eastern side of Sidmouth would certainly be threatened by severe flooding. There would be nothing to prevent it, because Sidmouth is seriously exposed to all the elements from that direction.”
And he warned that the Almer Bridge, a “lifeline” for residents in eastern Sidmouth, could eventually be under threat.
Coun Hughes said cliff falls this year were bigger than in the past, which he suggested could be a result of heavy rainfall as the rock had no natural drainage and the sandstone absorbed water.
Some residents with clifftop gardens have already seen trees fall over the edge.
Coun Hughes warned that a disused railway tunnel running beneath the surface could soon be exposed, causing a major landslip. The tunnel was built to bring rock to build a harbour – but it was too small for the trains and so was never used.
“The rock face can't be too far away from that tunnel, and that could cause serious problems.”
A spokesman for East Devon District Council said the issue was “complex” because of environmental matters and funding.
The council did not own much of the beach, nor the cliffs, but had arranged studies in the past in the interest of public safety. A decision to take any action would be made by the Environment Agency and Defra.
He added: “One of the overriding issues is to preserve the natural landscape. In the case of the cliffs at this point, their natural state is that they are made of softer materials than some other cliffs and so they will be subject to collapse.
“This may sound odd, but it is a fact. This is one of the unique features that make the East Devon coastline so attractive to tourists, as part of the World Heritage Coast.
“While funding is clearly another important factor, it is a combination of these factors that would determine what actions were taken. To illustrate the position the council is in, even if the residents themselves decided to fund protection works and were able to find the money, they might find they could not go ahead because of policies and plans upheld by other agencies such as Natural England.”
He said the results of two major studies which could help inform a decision were expected.
“In the meantime, the council is continuing to monitor the situation with regard to cliff falls. Signs are in place warning people on the beach.”
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