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Broadchurch Clifftop Lodges Spark Jurassic Coast Fears
20 Nov
Summary
- Luxury lodges planned for Eype Cliff threaten fragile Jurassic Coast.
- Locals fear development will destabilize 180-million-year-old cliffs.
- Petition launched against lodges citing dangerous precedent.
Locals are voicing strong opposition to the construction of luxury lodges on Eype Cliff near West Bay, Dorset, a location made famous by the ITV drama Broadchurch. Residents fear the development, featuring lodges valued up to £725,000 each, threatens the stability of the 180-million-year-old Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site already vulnerable to erosion.
The Eype Environment Protection group claims the shift from a low-impact campsite to a "high-density holiday village" is unacceptable. They highlight the historical cliff falls, noting that parts of the cliff visible in Broadchurch filming locations are now gone. A petition has gathered 1800 signatures, protesting the perceived "eyesore" and urging for a review of planning laws that permit such developments.
The developers, West Dorset Leisure Holidays, assert that necessary legal certificates were obtained and that the lodges will not negatively impact the environment, citing their involvement in local conservation projects. However, campaigners argue that the development, allowed without public consultation, sets a dangerous precedent for protected areas.
