'Relief' as village celebrates £19.8m sea defence plan
BBCResidents say they have celebrated with joy and relief after £19.8m was awarded to repair sea defences and protect homes left cut-off when winter storms battered a seaside village.
The Environment Agency (EA) announced on Tuesday it had approved funding for the multi-million pound scheme to install rock armour in Torcross, Devon.
The defences were damaged by multiple storms in January, eventually leading to part of the A379 coastal road between Torcross and Slapton washing away in February.
Natalie Cordrey, who owns a property in Torcross and has local businesses, said the news had received a "very positive reaction", while resident Andrew Marsden called it a "relief".
"There were some drinks in the pub and we did celebrate because we are very happy that this first step has been confirmed," Cordrey told BBC Radio Devon.
Under the plans, the armour - made up of large rocks - will be placed on the beach between the access steps at the southern end and the slipway at the north end.
Cordrey said it would be an enormous change as it would mean part of the beach would be lost, but it was the right move for the village despite being "bittersweet".
She added: "I was on South Sands Ferry in Salcombe when I heard the news and I did shed many a tear, it was very emotional."
Melissa Marsden, who was among the group of residents who celebrated the news with a drink at the Start Bay Inn, said she "couldn't be happier".
"This is the first of many celebrations and we can't wait for the next one, we're very happy," she said.
Her husband Andrew said the rock armour funding approval had come as a "massive relief" for everyone in the village.
He said: "It secures our long-term future in the village, frankly.
"And that's a really wonderful bit of news for, well, not just us, but everyone else in the village as well."
The EA said it was "working at pace" to sort out the project's designs, materials and the necessary consents required to carry out the work.
"We remain committed to delivering this project as quickly as possible," an EA spokesperson said.
Ravi Balasingam, who lives nearby in Frogmore with his wife Alison, said the funding approval had come through a lot quicker than he thought it would.
Balasingam added: "From what we had gathered, there's a lot of work, bureaucracy going on in the background.
"We knew there was a lot of work going on but this has just come out of the blue."
While the rock armour work received a warm reception, others in the village said they wanted to have the A379 repaired as well after significant damage was caused to it by the storms.
Prior to the road washing away, residents had expressed fears about a long crack that had opened up along the seafront.
While residents were not completely cut off by the road collapse, it has meant a long diversion for people going to and from Dartmouth.
Ethan Cooke, who works as front of house at the Start Bay Inn, said it had been quieter following the damage to the road.
"We haven't made it to summer yet and it is a seasonally based business, so hopefully as the sun comes out and the summer holidays roll around, the business won't be affected massively," Cooke added.
"But you can certainly feel the difference as there's not a through road, so it's less tourism and people coming in and out."
A government spokesperson said in response to the damaged road: "We know the storm damage to the A379 has been disruptive to many residents, and we continue to work with the county council as it determines its next steps.
"Our new Structures Fund will repair and renew roads across England, and local highway authorities have until the 3rd August to apply for investment."
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