DISTRICT engineers have admitted there is no back-up plan if multi-million pound funding is not secured to protect Lyme’s East Cliff.

Phase IV of West Dorset District Council’s coastal protection works will safeguard roads, businesses, homes and utilities from coastal erosion.

The £21million scheme was last month given technical approval by the Environment Agency, but project leaders remained cautious over securing the funding from Defra. (more…)

PROPOSALS to protect Lyme’s East Cliff have been approved by the Environment Agency – but project leaders remain cautious over securing multi-million-pound funding.

The agency has given technical approval to West Dorset District Council’s phase four works, a £21million scheme to protect roads, businesses, homes and utilities from coastal erosion.

It means the council can appoint consultants to produce detailed designs and carry out environmental mitigation work ahead of construction. The design and advance works are estimated to cost the authority in the region of £2million. (more…)

FLOOD and coastal erosion risks in shoreline areas will be outlined in a series of public exhibitions in March.

The Environment Agency will invite Bournemouth, Poole, Wareham and Swanage residents to hear plans for tackling flood and erosion risks over the next century.

The impact of climate change will also be explained, along with various options for managing these risks. (more…)

Funding for vital flood defence schemes in the South West is to be cut by 16 per cent next year, the Government has confirmed.

But officials refused to produce a list of projects that will not get state aid as a result of the region losing £6 million in 2011/12.

Ministers announced that £521 million would be spent on protecting homes and businesses in England from April. (more…)

COMMUNITIES in Dorset are being asked for their say on how the Environment Agency protects them from floods and coastal erosion over the next 100 years.

The agency says that local knowledge and experience are key to holding back Mother Nature as sea levels rise.

It is launching the Poole Bay, Poole Harbour and Wareham Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy, which follows a broader study that looked at flood risk and erosion between Hengistbury Head and Durlston Head.

Now, working with councils in Dorset, it is looking in more detail at what needs to be done. (more…)

A COMMITMENT has been made to raise the £21million needed to protect Lyme’s eastern side from coastal erosion.

Phase 4 of West Dorset District Council’s coastal protection works in the town will protect roads, public utilities, businesses and homes from the more serious effects of erosion and associated ground movement.

If the work were not carried out 144 properties would be destroyed within 50 years and a further 342 properties would lose their access. (more…)

Work on a £20m project to safeguard about 140 properties in a Dorset town from falling into the sea is scheduled to start in spring 2012.

The Lyme Regis coastal erosion scheme aims to stop roads, public utilities, firms and homes in the east of the town from being destroyed in 50 years’ time.

West Dorset District Council said part of the A3052, the main road into the town, is also at risk. (more…)

RESIDENTS living in the most unstable part of Lyme Regis have welcomed the news that plans to protect the East Cliff have been approved by district planners.

The £20million plans to stop the town’s eastern flank from slipping into the sea went before West Dorset District Council’s development control committee last week.

It is the next major step in work to improve the landslip areas at Church and East Cliffs and protect the town, its infrastructure and historic structures. (more…)

‘HOLD the line at Hengistbury Head – or increase the risk of a flooding disaster’.

These men are fighting a proposed change in the coastal protection plan.

They say in time it could lead to the flooding of Christchurch Harbour, and the erosion of Hengistbury Head. (more…)

DORSET’S Jurassic Coast is set to benefit from a £376,500 cash injection to help combat erosion and rising sea levels posed by climate change.

Dorset County Council environment chiefs teamed up with their East Devon counterparts to bid for a share of millions of pounds of Government cash.

The cash will be used on projects to benefit Preston Beach in Weymouth, Ringstead, Charmouth, Seatown and Swanage. (more…)