Major work is soon to start on improvements at West Bay.

A consultation on four Dorset Coastal Connections and Environment Agency projects has ended and the comments of residents, visitors and business owners are being considered.

Projects include the West Bay cycle access project, which will enhance the existing bridleway between West Bay and Bothenhampton by widening, resurfacing and providing a safe, traffic-free route between West Bay and Bridport's existing walking and cycling network.

The project team plan to enhance the area where the route starts and ends by providing cyclists and walkers arriving in West Bay an attractive welcome area with plenty of cycle parking. The route starts and ends at the back of the Station Yard car park, runs alongside the West Bay Road car park and then onto Bothenhampton.

The cycle project will receive £267,000 towards its costs from the Coastal Communities Fund (CCF) and £242,000 is being provided by Dorset County Council (DCC), the project partner leading on its construction.

Work is planned to commence on the cycle access in autumn/winter this year.

Coastal defence works will be carried out to protect East Beach, West Beach and the Parkdean site from potential flood risks and make these sites more resilient to storm damage.

Work will be carried out between spring 2019 and spring 2020, following which improvements will be made to access at East Beach.

The East Beach access project aims to provide a defined access route up onto the shingle bank from East Beach car park.

Designs show access will be in the form of a boardwalk structure to a viewing platform on the beach which, it is hoped, will improve access for everyone, especially for those with disabilities or with pushchairs. The access will guide people away from walking directly under the cliff and will provide clearer safety information to help people enjoy the coast safely. There is also an opportunity for interpretation boards to display information on the viewing platform.

The East Beach access project will receive £32,000 towards its cost from the CCF and the remainder of the funding, around £11,000, is being provided by the Environment Agency.

The beach access will be the final phase of the extensive coastal defence work being carried out by the Environment Agency at East Beach and will be completed by December 2019.

Last week, we revealed plans for a welcome hub area between the George pub, harbour and seafood kiosks.

The hub aims to be a central, attractive, user-friendly area for everyone

to enjoy.

The project will receive £133,000 from the CCF, with the remaining £16,000 to be provided by DCC.

Work will commence in winter this year, with an aim for completion by summer 2019.