£1.4M Boost for Coastal Cliff Safety

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council has allocated £1.4 million to enhance safety and maintenance along 15.5 miles of its coastline. This funding is specifically earmarked to tackle groundwater instability, a significant factor contributing to cliff slips and landslides, especially after recent incidents at West Cliff and East Cliff earlier this year. The council intends to use these funds to bolster cliff stability and maintain existing coastal defences, including sand drains.

Councillor Andy Hadley highlighted the necessity for ongoing maintenance, noting that certain aspects of the coastline have not been adequately maintained over the past two to three decades. The allocated £1.4 million, drawn from the council's reserves, is expected to be spent over the next two years. This initiative is part of a broader, developing cliff management strategy that projects a need for over £41 million in funding for coastline maintenance and management over the next two decades.

While the need for investment was broadly supported, some council members expressed reservations about the level of detail provided regarding the specific outcomes of the £1.4 million expenditure. Councillors Judes Butt and John Beesley questioned the adequacy of the projected £41 million for 20 years and sought further clarity on the long-term strategy and its funding mechanisms. Following earlier landslips, temporary measures like fences, warning signs, and pathway adjustments were implemented.