Crunch meeting on the future of A379 as 20,000 sign petition
South Devon MP Caroline Voaden is today meeting with the Government to ask for money to repair the Slapton Line
After more than 20,000 people signed a petition, there's a crunch meeting in Parliament later calling for the A379 Slapton Line to be rebuilt.
This afternoon's meeting with the roads minister comes after £2.5 million was spent in 2018 last time it washed into the sea.
Local MP Caroline Voaden says it's 'unlikely' a decision will be confirmed today but she will be pressing the case, adding: "For me the priority at the moment are the people who've had to move out of their homes because they've been damaged - and they are shaking so badly they are not sure whether they are safe to be in their homes.
"For people who are faced with that kind of situation that's more important than the road and the road comes next."
During a series of public meetings over the past week residents have expressed concern over the size of vehicles and volume of traffic now using single-track lanes to get around - whilst the A379 remains closed at Slapton Sands.
Julian Brazil is the leader of Devon County Council, which has been preparing a briefing about the state of the damage and likely repair costs. He said: "We'll be giving an estimate of how much we think it will cost to replace the line because if we don't get any money from Government we can't do anything."
Slapton resident Natalie Cordrey has been campaigning to make sure residents' voices are heard, saying: "We want to create a lot of awareness and a lot of noise because it is a wonderful area for 300,000 people that come here every year to see our area of special scientific interest - and outstanding natural beauty - and we need that road back."
She says there's only a 'Plan A' and no 'Plan B', adding: "The reason that's our only wish is to rebuild the road and make the village safe because it's shaking and it's not a good situation down on the front. The reason we need the road to be fixed or realigned is because there is not an alternative."
The petition can be found here
What is the latest?
Further inspections of parts of the seawall at Torcross will be required, but experts believe there is no need for concern about its overall stability. Some residents have raised concerns about the efficacy of the existing storm defences, suggesting they can hear sounds that are unfamiliar, even during storms. However, experts from the Environment Agency have said while some areas might need another look after its initial inspection, it is not overly worried.
“Our officers and engineering specialists have inspected the seawall in front of residential properties in Torcross,” a spokesperson for the Environment Agency told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
“We have identified areas that require further investigation, but we are not concerned about the current stability of the flood defence.
“We are commissioning a detailed survey as a priority and will be monitoring the defences long term.
“We are working closely with local authorities to manage the sea defences at Torcross and support recovery of the community.”
The complexity and bureaucracy surrounding flood and sea defences, though, means that the Environment Agency has only inspected the seawall in front of the properties in Torcross.
Any prospective repairs to defences in front of the so-called Tank car park at Torcross and along the road fall to Devon County Council because of its responsibility for the county’s highways.
The Environment Agency said its contractor Kier would be conducting work in Torcross to carry out investigations, with a detailed survey being commissioned as a priority alongside longer-term monitoring.
The agency added that it would be working with all authorities and organisations to help the community of Torcross recover from the storms.
That collaborative effort is likely to stretch all the way to Westminster, given Devon County Council’s leader, Councillor Julian Brazil (Liberal Democrat, Kingsbridge), has stated that his council would not have the money to fund such major repairs.
The council has found some extra money to go towards improving the small rural roads that will act as alternate routes while the Line is out of action, but it can’t stump on millions of pounds to repair the A379.
There is precedent for the government stepping in after Storm Emma in 2018, which also led to a section of the road being severely damaged. Around £2.5 million was secured back then by then-MP Sarah Woollaston and Devon County Council.