Decision Delayed on Sidmouth and East Beach Management Plan

Following a request from the Chairman of East Devon District Council, Councillor Stuart Hughes, councilors will delay discussing the Sidmouth and East Beach Management Plan (BMP) to a future date.

Sidmouth’s BMP was completed in January 2017 by East Devon’s consultants CH2M, following extensive consultation and collaboration with the local community.

“We really appreciate all the support of the community groups who have provided valuable feedback throughout the steering group process. We value their input greatly and have incorporated their feedback into the BMP, which as a result is a much more robust document,” said Councillor Andrew Moulding, Chairman of the Steering Group.

“Over the next 12 months more work will be needed to secure the additional estimated £3.3m funding contribution for Option S1, which is the preferred choice due to it providing the best balance between technical viability, environmental acceptability and an economic case.

“We hope that it will be possible to achieve this level of funding through contributions from partners and beneficiaries, as we need to have this sum firmly in place as part of the outline business case that we intend submitting in June 2018.”

BMP started in January 2014 following concerns over rates of erosion at East Beach. Its aim is to maintain the 1990’s Sidmouth Coastal Defense Scheme Standard of Service, as well as to reduce the rate of erosion on East Beach, with all the works to be carried out in an integrated, justifiable and sustainable way.

As part of the BMP’s development process, a wide range of options – designed to manage the risk of coastal flooding and erosion to property and other assets along the Sidmouth and East Beach – has been appraised using comprehensive technical, environmental and economic methodology.

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