The latest major part of a project to improve sea defences in Lyme Regis has been completed.
Phase IV, a £19.5 million plan, has focused on protecting homes, roads and infrastructure on the eastern side of the town from coastal erosion and landslips.
To mark its official opening, a ceremony will be held at 11am on Wednesday 17th June on Church Walk Cliff, the newly constructed sea wall located a short walk from the Marine Theatre.
Cllr Peter Shorland, Chairman of West Dorset District Council and Alan Lovell, former Chairman of Wessex Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (RFCC) will host the ceremony and invited guests will include Cllr Owen Lovell, Mayor of Lyme Regis, local councillors, designers and engineers, and main contractor Balfour Beatty who’ve played an integral part in the project build.
A group of Year 9 students from The Woodroffe School will also be attending to learn more about the project ahead of studying coasts in September.
There will be speeches and a plaque unveiling to mark the occasion, and tours of the new sea wall will be taking place for those interested in learning more about the construction.
Members of the public and other organisations are welcomed to attend.
Cllr Peter Shorland, Chairman of West District Council said:
“The Lyme Regis coastal protection scheme was initiated by the council in the early 1990s. In the past 100 years, Lyme has experienced loss and damage to properties, landslip and erosion of the foreshore and breaches to its sea defences.
“The excellent work carried out by all those involved so far has put a stop to this situation and will protect this beautiful town in the future.”
The works have focused on three main areas: the foreshore (immediately in front of the existing sea wall), lower coastal slopes (east of housing on East Cliff and Ferndown Road) and middle slopes (including Charmouth Rd car park, the football club and allotments).
- The works have secured around 390 metres of coastline between Church Cliff and East Cliff for the next 50 years.
- Up to 480 homes have been saved from damage or loss of access.
- Major utility pipes and cables that would otherwise be destroyed by ground movement have also been protected.
Neil Watson, Coastal Engineer for the Environment Agency said:
“The Lyme Regis Phase IV East Cliff scheme is one of the largest and most complex coast protection and slope stabilisation projects attempted in England for many years.
“It demonstrates the benefits of working in partnership in addressing planning, complex geotechnical, environmental, community and financial challenges of the site to provide an exemplar that will be followed by the industry for decades to come.”
West Dorset District Council has led the scheme with main contractor Balfour Beatty carrying out the works, which began in April 2013.
Defra funding of £14.6million was secured in March 2012 when the Environment Agency approved the scheme. West Dorset District Council has contributed £600,000 to the works and Dorset County Council up to £4.27million.
The district council’s land stabilisation and coastal protection programme has offered security for the town and safeguarded against the risk of destructive landsliding.
