Council considers loan to ensure £2m work at cliffs can carry on as planned

AN urgent loan to shore up a £2.2 million East Devon cliff slip project is needed to help prevent rising costs and delays.

- by BRADLEY GERRARD Local Democracy Reporter

The project at Seaton Hole has secured the funding it needs to help reduce erosion at the town's beach and help prevent cliff falls, but issues with the timing of the cash have arisen.

The process linked to the Government funding the scheme has secured risks delaying the project by up to a year, which also raises the prospect of increased costs that would lead to further fundraising being needed.

To ensure the project keeps to its timetable, which would involve 7,000 tonnes of rocks needed as part of the scheme being delivered by early September at the latest, East Devon District Council is considering temporarily plugging the short term funding gap with a £673,000 loan.