THE future of Clacton's crumbling Martello Towers is set to be discussed at a public event next month.

Tower D, near Clacton golf course, and Tower E, in Hastings Avenue, are listed by Historic England on its Heritage at Risk register.

The towers, which are both listed as being in poor condition, are two of a chain of 29 forts built between 1808 and 1812 to protect the coast from invasion during the Napoleonic era.

The remaining towers form prominent landmarks in Tendring.

Tendring Council owns the forts, alongside Tower F, which is currently let to a private tenant, next to Clacton Hospital – while Essex County Council owns Tower C in Jaywick.

The event, which will include speakers from architectural firms and Historic England, will be hosted by Tendring Council, at the Jaywick Martello Tower, which is a cultural centre and museum, on July 9 from 10am to 4pm

Carlo Guglielmi, the council's cabinet member for finance and corporate resources, said: “Martello Towers offer a rich history, not just from when they were built but from the uses they have been put to since then up and down our coastline.

“There have been some innovative uses adopted at some other Martellos and we want to benefit from people’s knowledge and insight around that, collecting ideas and suggestions as to what uses we might see for ours here in Clacton.

“Towers D and E are both in need of some repair works and we need to find uses for them that are sensitive to their heritage but also financially viable and sustainable.

“I would stress we have made no decisions regarding the future of the towers, we recognise that we have some potentially fantastic assets sitting here and would like to get more out of them.”

The council said that while invitations are being sent to interested parties, the event is open to the public – though there are limited spaces.

To book a place at the event visit tendringdc.gov.uk/leisure/events-entertainment/whats-on/martello-towers-day.