A379 Slapton Line update: August

I just want to share a quick update on the latest with the A379 Slapton Line and coastal erosion in Torcross.

𝐒𝐞𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬

Back in May, I was delighted to share that the Environment Agency had secured £19.8m in funding to install rock armour in Torcross.

This came after lots of campaigning in parliament and in the community. I hope the project will help secure residents’ long-term future in Torcross.

Recently, the Environment Agency, the Slapton Line Partnership, South Hams District Council, and Devon County Council hosted a public meeting about the project, which is due to start later this year.

Unfortunately, due to being in Westminster, I was unable to attend. But I understand the meeting was well attended and informative.

Further information about the project can be found here: https://www.slaptonline.org/community/

If you do have any questions about the project, you are probably best directing them to: DCISEnquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝟑𝟕𝟗 𝐒𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞

The Slapton Line Partnership recently met to discuss the current situation with the A379 Slapton Line and adaptations, and will meet again in October. Minutes of the recent meeting can be found here: https://www.slaptonline.org/.../07/SLP_Minutes_19-02-26.pdf

The Partnership’s working groups have also met on multiple occasions, focusing on key areas including the Inland Routes and the Monument. Good progress is being made, particularly in relation to improving the back lanes – work is due to start later this year.

Conversations around the future of the A379 Slapton Line are still ongoing. As I’ve mentioned before, Torcross’s rock armour scheme does not make funding for the A379 Slapton Line any more or less likely. The funding comes from different pots which are independent from one another.

𝐁𝐢𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝

Thank you to the businesses who responded to my call for economic data on how the closure of the A379 Slapton Line has affected you. That information was weaved into Devon County Council’s submission to the government’s Structures Fund.

Through the Structures Fund, the government provides grant funding to support the capital costs of repairing or replacing local highway structures. DCC will find out if their bid was successful in the autumn, and I’ll continue doing whatever I can to support DCC in this pursuit.

I know this has been a frustrating and difficult time for many of you. While Westminster is awed by the new PM, there are real, longstanding issues, like coastal erosion, which the government isn’t paying enough attention to.