Around 40 tonnes of Seaton cliff removed after tension crack

Work to clear 40 tonnes of Seaton Cliff, which was at risk of falling onto West Walk, is complete.  

The towns promenade was swept on Thursday and reopened to the public, just in time for the parkrun and The Grizzly events to go ahead as planned.  

The extremely difficult, four-day excavation was carried out as part of a routine cliff inspection by East Devon District Council’s (EDDC) StreetScene engineers. Inspections are undertaken annually to make the area as safe as possible for the public, recent heavy rainfall had caused more debris to slump and fall than normal. 

Works were originally only supposed to take three days, but an extra day of work was required after a tension crack was discovered during the works – the saturation of the cliff also made the material extremely difficult to remove by hand.  

EDDC would like to thank everyone for their ongoing patience, while it ensures the safety of the public and its workforce.   

Councillor Geoff Jung, Councillor Geoff Jung, portfolio holder for Coast, Country and Environment, said:  “I am very pleased to see the issues at Seaton West Walk resolved.  

“Owing to the natural effects of climate change and relentless rainfall we have endured these past months.  

“The Hideaway Cafe has been open throughout, but the closure of West Walk has obviously had an impact. We would like to thank them for their patience and are very glad everything is open for this weekend’s events, which promise to see lots of people enjoying the area. 

"For the team to come up with a solution at such short notice and coordinate the works is testament to their constant strive towards keeping the district open and looking its best for residents and visitors alike.”