COUNCILLORS have backed a soil stabilisation scheme that will cost around £2.1million to enable the reopening of the Beaminster Tunnel.

Dorset County Council has been considering a range of options to repair the tunnel since its closure following a landslip on July 7 that killed couple Rosemary Snell and Michael Rolfe.

The council's cabinet agreed to move forward with plans for soil nailing on the slopes surrounding the tunnel and members have stressed the need to move forward with the work.

Director for environment Miles Butler said officers had essentially been investigating two principal options, with the other being the installation of a hood or concrete extension of the tunnel to protect the road from landslips.

He said that the soil stabilisation scheme would cost around £2.1million and the hood would cost around £1.8million.

However, Mr Butler said the soil nailing - which involves driving large steel pins and locking them together with a geotextile mesh - would require virtually no maintenance and would provide an effective form of prevention against landslips while the extension would simply catch landfalls and the road and hood would still need to be cleared afterwards.

He said the soil nailing would also ensure water is drained away from the tunnel.

The council is still pressing the Government for funding before work is due to start in January.

It is estimated to take about six months.