Efforts to tackle East Devon town’s coastal issues like ‘spinning plates’

Efforts to tackle a host of coastal issues in an East Devon town are like “spinning plates” as work continues to ensure swift and safe repairs.

Sidmouth has experienced a range of issues in recent weeks, including problems unearthed by its regular inspections.
East Devon District Council has had to close the well-known Jacob’s Ladder, largely due to urgent repairs being required to the stone platform that the ladder connects to, and the nearby seawall and slipway.
Furthermore, the town’s Millennium Walk, also known as Undercliff, has been closed after annual inspections revealed large cracks behind the old cobblestone retaining wall at the top of Connaught Garden cliffs, which support the footpath within the gardens that sits above the walkway below.
East Devon District Council’s cabinet (1 April) heard that the public were being urged not to ignore warning signs that identified certain paths and routes as being closed due to very real dangers.
“There are several issues going on so it is like spinning plates,” said officer Tom Buxton-Smith.
“The Jacob’s Ladder staircase is out of action following an annual inspection, the planned beach hut replacement work is ongoing, the seawall repairs are required and more, so we are trying to do the work in a way that best reduces the impact on businesses and residents.”
The cabinet agreed to allow officers to select  contractors to repair the Jacob’s Ladder platform, seawall and slipway, and also for the Connaught Gardens works too. Doing this reduces the timescales of the procurement process to help ensure the work can start sooner.
In terms of Jacob’s Ladder itself, which is also damaged and needs repairing, Mr Buxton-Smith said an assessment of the structure was ongoing and that cabinet would be updated in due course.
He added that major movements in the beach at Sidmouth had revealed the extent of the works required on the seawall. He stated the council was aiming to start the work here after the Easter holidays but delays in the availability of some materials could push that back slightly.
With Connaught Gardens, the council will appoint John Grimes Associates to design the cliff repairs, and a contractor will be selected to implement the works.
Councillor Sophie Richards (Conservative, Sidmouth Town) highlighted the issue of some residents and visitors ignoring signs warning them against using certain paths and bits of beach.
Mr Buxton-Smith said there was a “serious risk” for those ignoring the warnings.
“The path was closed and we put barriers and fences there but unfortunately people moved them, leaving them open for others to follow,” he said.
“We have since gone back and drilled eyelets into the rock and seawall, and fences are due to be padlocked to both, so people will not be able to physically move them, and they will be extended over the seawall so that people can’t get around them.
Cabinet heard that west beach in Sidmouth remained accessible via other routes.
Councillor John Loudoun (Independent, Sidmouth Rural) stated that while people joked about health and safety, the council was “not risk averse”.
“We are doing everything we can to protect people, and picking up on the point about stupidity, we have it at the other end of Sidmouth at east beach where we have tried to make it difficult for people to walk under the falling cliffs but they still do so and even sit and picnic there,” he said.