Second public meeting in a week to discuss the future of the Slapton Line
Today's meeting takes place at Slapton Village Hall
Another public meeting takes place today about the future of the A379 Slapton Line after parts washed into the sea overnight on Monday.
Today's meeting is at Slapton Village Hall from 1.30pm until 3pm and is chance to share views on what should happen next.
Devon County Council and Government are still unable to confirm where the funding to restore the damaged stretch of road long-term will come from.
This week, with additional rock protection being brought to the area and heavy machinery in constant use, Devon County Council asked people to keep a safe distance from the site and from damaged sections of road.
There will be two meetings today, 12pm-1pm and 2pm-3pm, both aimed at those who didn't attend - or couldn't get into - the meeting in the week.
In a post after Thursday's meeting, Ms Voaded said: "We had an open, honest conversation about what the future of the A379 Slapton Line may be. I want to pay tribute to all of those who asked questions, particularly those who live in Torcross. I can only imagine how scary the last few days have been for you all. I am working with South Hams District Council to ensure structural engineers do a proper survey on the homes there. DCC confirmed additional funding will be used to make improvements on the back lanes around the Slapton area. This is a step in the right direction as we work to find a solution. Whatever is decided, the A379 will be closed for a long time. So, patience is needed as we consult on what to do. "
She added: "I have also been alerted to several (potentially fraudulent) Go Fund Me Pages dedicated to fixing the A379 Slapton Line. While I really appreciate the thought and generosity behind these pages, I am afraid that at the moment we are not at the fundraising stage."
Parking at Torcross and the public right of way along the road between Torcross and Slapton is being suspended by the county council. Stretches of the road and part of South Hams District Council’s Torcross “tank” car park were washed away overnight on Monday evening.
Councillor Dan Thomas, County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Leader of South Hams District Council, said: “There will be a time to support the community in Torcross, but for now the most helpful thing people can do is give our teams space to make the area safe.
"It’s simply not safe for people to be near the site where our teams are working. There’s a lot of activity going on and they’re working hard to protect what’s left of the road and the car park.
“Even some of the sections of road which currently remain in place may have been undercut by the sea, so they may not be safe to walk on. I would urge everyone to please stay at a safe distance and let them get on with it. The barriers on the road are there for your safety.”
Councillor Julian Brazil, Devon County Council Leader and County Councillor for Kingsbridge, was in Westminster this week calling on Government for financial support for Devon to deal with the after effects of the winter storms.
He said: “We’re asking Government to help with the cost of the clean-up and also to help with making our infrastructure more resilient.
"As a county we can’t afford the amount of money we need to invest to protect our infrastructure. Whether it’s at Slapton, Dawlish, or branch lines to Barnstaple and Okehampton, we need government support and we’ve got to get our fair share.”