A NEW beach access ramp is being planned at Lower Sea Lane, Charmouth.

If agreed it will be sited south of the Heritage Coast Centre, alongside the existing concrete steps which lead down to the beach.

The application for the concrete ramp comes from the parish council and is similar to a previous consent which was approved in March 2018 but not completed.

In the new application the parish council says that poor access to the West Beach is seen by some visitors as a problem when visiting the area.

Said a parish council statement: “This is not ideal situation given the importance of Charmouth as a gateway town to the Jurassic heritage coast. In response to the studies and surveys the parish council has developed proposals for a new beach access stepped ramp built onto the existing coastal defences at Charmouth.”

The proposals show the ramp on the corner of the existing seawall, running down from the car park and Lower Sea Lane, starting from directly in front of the visitor centre and protected by rock armouring.