Lyme Regis: £20m plans to safeguard cliffs welcomed (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Lyme Regis: £20m plans to safeguard cliffs welcomed

11:30am Wednesday 14th April 2010

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RESIDENTS living in the most unstable part of Lyme Regis have welcomed the news that plans to protect the East Cliff have been approved by district planners.

The £20million plans to stop the town’s eastern flank from slipping into the sea went before West Dorset District Council’s development control committee last week.

It is the next major step in work to improve the landslip areas at Church and East Cliffs and protect the town, its infrastructure and historic structures.

District officers approved the scheme last Thursday in order safeguard around 144 homes, roads and services from coastal erosion and associated ground movement.

Residents living just metres away from the cliff edge are delighted with the news, but they realise there is a long way to go yet to secure their homes.

The district council must now apply to the Environment Agency and Government for approval and the £20million needed.

Sheila Poupard has lived at Cliff Edge, East Cliff, for 12 years but has lived in and around the area for almost 30 years.

During the major landslip in the 1970s, neighbouring properties were destroyed and the home she now lives in is just metres away from a sharp drop.

Mrs Poupard, a former town, district and county councillor, said: “Naturally I’m delighted with the news that the planning application for East Cliff has been approved.

“I’ve been involved with the project here for well over 20 years.

“Hopefully, the funding will now be made available to proceed with the plans in the near future.”

The district council said work could begin in spring 2012 at the earliest, with completion expected within two years.

Derek Hallett, of Church Cliff, said: “They are talking about 2014 for completion and it was originally going to be 2012 so we are already behind time.

“But I’m delighted the plans have been approved – we should be able to put the lifejackets away for good.

“I would like to thank the town council, East Cliff residents, and everyone who has worked extremely hard to get this. I think all of Lyme will be delighted.”

Mr Hallett’s partner Susanne Whitemore said: “I’m glad it has been approved – it’s a great relief to know something will be done soon.”

The couple lost 70ft of their garden during the 2003 landslip, which they said was ‘devastating’, and their house now stands just 24ft from the edge of the cliff.

“We’ve had to live with it,” said Mr Hallett. “We weren’t going to move unless we absolutely had to and hopefully we are not going to have to any more.”

Jane Leak has been living at East Cliff for 30 years and only her garden stands between her house and the cliff edge. She said: “I’m quite happy about it, if it’s going to happen, but the less the cliff is poked around with, the better.

“I would like to see it stabilised, providing it is stabilised properly.”

This is Phase 4 of the district council’s ongoing coastal protection works in Lyme and the work will include a new sea wall, slope stabilisation and landscaping, habitat restoration and management.

If nothing is done, Charmouth Road car park, much of Charmouth Road, Church Street, and major underground pipes and cables would be at risk of destruction or serious structural damage within 50 years.

But the scheme will prevent the loss of property and infrastructure for at least another 60 years.

For more information visit www.dorsetforyou.com/lyme

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