"Although the cliff face at Pennington Point has experienced recent erosion, there is no immediate requirement for emergency works to be undertaken and that the town of Sidmouth is not at increased risk of flooding now or in the near future." [2009 Report]

The Beach Management Plan steering group is asking members of the public to comment on the latest reports [2014...] by next week:
Futures Forum: Sidmouth Beach Management Plan: invitation to comment on draft reports: by 18th February

This is in fact a 'national issue'...
Here is some context from the British Geological Survey:

Rock fall at Pennington Point

Active coastal landsliding at Pennington Point was caught on camera by local resident, Eve Mathews, showing a dramatic series of rock falls onto the beach. Pennington Point lies just east of the town of Sidmouth on the south-east Devon coast. The landslide has been entered into the National landslide Database as ID 16367/1.

Falls began to take place began in February 2009 and continued during March. Due to the speed of this type of landslide, it very unusual to be caught on film and these images provide a rare insight into the process as it happens.

Rock fall at Pennington Point. (Photo: © Eve Mathews)

Landslides along this section of coast are common; another fall occurred nearby at Hangar Point around the same time. The famous Axmouth to Lyme Regis Undercliff lies just to the east, representing a 1 km stretch of coast formed entirely from ancient landslides. This stretch is particularly famous for the 1839 Bindon Landslide which attracted much public attention at the time. Sidmouth and Pennington Point are also part of the UNESCO Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, which is important for its sequence of Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks but also for its many large-scale landslides.

Rock fall at Pennington Point | South-east Devon coast | Landslide case study | Landslides at BGS | Shallow geohazards & risks | Engineering geology | Our research | British Geological Survey (BGS)
Futures Forum: Pennington Point: rock falls

At more or less the same time, the District Council's consultants on Pennington Point published their report:

Pennington Point: Cliff Erosion Review 

October 2009

SUMMARY 
Following meetings with Mark Reilly and Keith Steel of East Devon District Council regarding recent cliff falls at Pennington Point, we presented, by letter of 19th September 2008, our proposal for undertaking an assessment of the recent cliff erosion. 

This assessment was to be brief, including recommendations for any work which might be appropriate. In 2009, following a meeting with representatives of the Town of Sidmouth, the Member of Parliament and the National Trust, the October 2008 report was revised to take account of a number of concerns, most notably the presentation of erosion rate information. 

From this brief study, Royal Haskoning can confirm that although the cliff face at Pennington Point has experienced recent erosion, there is no immediate requirement for emergency works to be undertaken and that the town of Sidmouth is not at increased risk of flooding now or in the near future. 

It should be noted that there is an inherent risk and safety concern associated with cliff faces of this nature, therefore in addition to the safety measures already implemented, it is suggested that periodic surveys should be carried out to monitor the erosion of the cliff and manage the health and safety risk

Pennington Point: Cliff Erosion Review

Attempts to 'have something done' at Pennington Point have been going of for some time now:

Written Answers to Questions

Wednesday 7 July 2004

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Pennington Point, Sidmouth

Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with officials concerning increasing the funding available for work to Pennington Point in Sidmouth. [182050]

Mr. Morley: The Government are committed to the maintenance and improvement of necessary flood and coastal defences. Total Government funding on flood and coastal defence is projected to rise to £550 million in 2005–06. There have been no recent discussions with officials concerning increasing the funding available for work to Pennington Point in Sidmouth.

I understand that East Devon district council plan to undertake a protection scheme at Pennington Point/Salcombe Hill but that no formal application has yet been made for approval under the Coast Protection Act 1949 as planning permission is still to be granted . To qualify for Defra grant aid, proposals must meet essential criteria and achieve the relevant "priority score".

House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 7 Jul 2004 (pt 1)

Matters go back even further... to 1994 in fact...

Today's Herald is asking members of the public to provide the Beach Management Plan steering group with any photos of before then:

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