Storm-damaged seafront gets huge boulder delivery
BBCTonnes of large boulders have been delivered by boat to help reinforce a storm-battered seafront.
Defences at Torcross in Devon were badly damaged by storms in January, leading to part of the A379 coastal road between Torcross and Slapton being washed away.
The Environment Agency (EA) is now carrying out a £19.8m scheme to better protect the area, with nearly 60,000 tonnes of rock to begin arriving by sea and 30,000 tonnes of smaller material to be transported by road.
A large boat was seen delivering a shipment of the boulders onto the sand at Torcross earlier. The EA said the beach would be closed to the public while the work was carried out.
The boulders were due to start arriving last week, but shipments were delayed due to the weather.
The new rock armour, which will be placed on the shoreline frontage, is intended to reduce the energy from waves hitting the shore and better protect the Torcross community.
As well as the armour on the seafront, the EA scheme includes reinstating damaged defences at the car park and extending the slipway.
Installation is expected to continue until April 2027, with the slipway extension and car park sheet piling planned for spring 2027.
An EA spokesperson said: "Boats carrying the rock are anchored off site and waiting for favourable sea conditions to move towards shore."
They added: "The beach is now closed to the public as construction activity increases in and around the area."
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