Work begins to help save a seafront wall, after parts collapsed
Demolition work has started at Exmouth, as part of plans to shore up the crumbling sea wall
Last updated 4th Apr 2024
Repairs costing around £4 million are underway to help shore up Exmouth's crumbling seawall.
It's after cracks were found during recent storms - and new steel sheets are now being installed inside an improved wall.
Work is expected to take place all year, with the first phase near to the Sideshore development expected to be finished in the Summer.
After the initial damage last August, a subsequent storm weakened the wall further and put it at risk of collapse. Temporary repairs using concrete blocks and sand have since held it together.
The section, which is believed to be around 100 years old, does not have foundations and officials say this, together with low beach levels, has allowed waves to wash out sand from underneath.
East Devon District Council (EDDC) had wanted to start installing a 255-metre barrier of steel sheet piles at the wall in January for £1.1 million. Cladding the steel piles later was projected to come to just over £2 million.
But now the work will be split into two smaller phases, and costs have soared because of poor ground conditions.
The first phase will replace 90 metres of failed wall near Sideshore. It should be complete by the end of May and will cost £1.5 million.
The second phase will tackle 115 metres of ‘at-risk but still-intact’ wall towards Coastwatch House, minus the slipway. Work on this section has been pushed back to September at the earliest and will come to an estimated £1.8 million.
Cladding the steel piles should cost just shy of £1 million, bringing the total amount up to £4.3 million.
EDDC hopes it will be able to get a grant of £1.1 million from the Environment Agency to help.