A major new coast protection plan for Clacton has been drawn up, after two years of research, and will cost £34 million to put into action.

The preparations, revealed in the Evening Gazette today, have included extensive data collection and modelling to ensure the project is the best way forward to safeguard to coastline from the sea.

The scheme covers Clacton and Holland-on-Sea from Martello Bay right up to Holland Haven.

Tom Mackinlay, Tendring Council's head of technical services, said in a new report: "The aim is to recharge existing beaches in order to keep a significant depth of sand against the sea wall.

"It is expected the beach will then absorb the wave energy and prevent the wall from being undermined and eroded by the water.

"In an effort to stop the beach being swept away in storm conditions a total of 13 offshore breakwaters are to be built."

The first phase with three breakwaters will be constructed as soon as possible in a bid to prevent a potential failure of the sea wall next to Cliff Road, Holland, where beaches are at their lowest and the life of current defences is less than five years. It will cost about £10 million.

Phase two with five breakwaters will follow about five years later and phase three will provide another five breakwaters.

It is expected that the work will take about nine years to complete.

Much of the costs up to 75 per cent will be met by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) with a contribution from Tendring Council and Essex County Council.

The proposals will now have to be submitted to Defra for its consideration.

Published Thursday, April 10, 2003

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