The Devon coastal village of Torcross is in a 'race against time' to prevent being washed away, with a £19.8 million sea defence scheme approved by the Environment Agency (EA) set to begin this summer. The village has suffered severe storm damage, including the complete washing away of a stretch of the A379 main road last winter.
Residents fear defences won't be finished in time
Despite the funding, residents remain concerned that the rock armour barrier may not be completed before further storms hit. Hannah Miller, general manager at Start Bay Inn, described the situation as 'a race against time'. She said: 'If the storms are anything like they were this year and we don't have that in place, then it's going to be a pretty bleak future.'
Details of the sea defence scheme
The EA's enhancement scheme will reposition 55,000 tonnes of rock in front of existing defences to create a temporary protective barrier. The car park storm breach is scheduled to be fixed by June 2027, alongside rock revetment work. George Arnison, coastal engineer for the EA, explained that while the scheme represents 'value for money', it is not a lasting fix. He added: 'It will buy the community some time, buy the government some time, buy the Environment Agency some time, to think through what is the long term future here.'
Road repairs not included
Repairs to Slapton Line (the A379) are not part of the EA project. The 300-strong community considers this road a 'lifeline', and its closure has made access and transport challenging. The road linking Torcross and Slapton suffered damage when coastal barriers were wrecked during January's storms and further battered in February. At the time, Lib-Dem MP Caroline Voaden reportedly warned residents the route could remain shut for 'at least' a year.
Government response
During Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir Starmer described the destruction as 'very concerning' and said the Government was investing in strengthening flood and coastal barriers. In February, villagers were cut off amid 12ft waves during a storm.
