'Devastating' as work to shore up cliffs put on hold

THE Government's decision to put crucial work to protect Devon's fragile railway line on hold has been described as “devastating” by a local MP.

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Devon and Cornwall MPs had been lobbying ministers to make sure the fifth and final phase of the project to protect the railway line at Dawlish and Teignmouth was completed.

Network Rail has already completed four phases of work to make the vulnerable seaside line more resilient, including a new sea wall and extensive work on the station at Dawlish. But MPs and rail experts stressed that the final stage - to shore up cliffs between Dawlish and Teignmouth - was the most important of all.