10th March 2010

LYME REGIS: Fears for East Cliff residents

Stabilisation plans will protect 144 at risk home

by Philip Evans

WITH a planing decision expected within a few weeks to determine phase four of the coast protection scheme for East Cliff, Lyme Regis residents have expressed concerns over the security of their properties when the work is complete.

With the deadline for comments on the scheme to protect the eastern access to the town having expired, Charmouth Road residents have highlighted changes to the plans revealed in the public consultation.

West Dorset District Council is seeking planning permission to safeguard the Church Cliff and East Cliff areas of Lyme Regis.

The plans include the construction of 390 metres of new sea wall in front of the existing construction, building a short length of rock armour at the eastern end of the new sea wall, extensive slope stabilisation works including soil nailing, piling and drainage, with landscaping and other enviromental mitigation measures.

If the work is not carried out, it is estimated that about 144 houses, Charmouth Road car park, much of Charmouth Road and Church Street, and major underground pipes and cables, are at risk of destruction or serious structural damage within 50 years.

A few of the properties could be lost in five years if the protection works are not carried out.

District council officials are currently dicussing plans with other agencies but planning permission is expected to be granted in the Spring.

The works are scheduled for completion by the Spring of 2014 if the necessary finance if forthcoming.

Residents are supporting the stabilisation scheme which will protect their properties but are concerned about a change in security measures.

In observations to the district council they point out that they were promised a 1.8 metre close-boarded fence along the eastern boundary of their properties in Charmouth Road to replace the substantial hedge.

Now there was a proposal for access gates through their fences to get to the manhole for the diverted storm drain.

One Charmouth Road resident whose property is threatened by the eroding cliffs, Brian Thornber said he had been “verbally abused” by people who had wandered onto his premises who had been cut off by the tide.

The residents also drew attention to the inclusion on the plans of a large viewing area which had not been proposed at the public consultation meeting last November, claiming it could attract more anti-social behaviour.

LYME REGIS: Fears for East Cliff residents

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