Now we get phase 2 of the consultation on the work at Holcombe Beach. I can't find the link that led to pictures (a video, I think) that came with the June consultation - but the threads on this are still in some disarray, and those on the work at Dawlish (not really Phase 1 of this work) are worse.
There are loads of new "show and ask" sessions around the area from Monday 20th, and quite a long video interview with Dean Shaw from Network Rail
on DevonLive. He explains that the new design (really the first design, as in June they just had an outline) has the railway closer to the cliff, and is presented in much more detail. Note that the DevonLive piece includes a video fly-through - I'm prretty sure it's the original one, which might be useful background, but as they don't say it's just misleading!
A second round of consultation over Network Rail’s plan to realign the railway track between Holcombe and Teignmouth and move it further out to sea will begin later this month.
The six-week consultation will include further details of the proposed realignment of railway, stabilising measures and new public amenities.
The stretch of railway between Parsons Tunnel, near Holcombe, and Teignmouth is at potential risk from rising sea levels and landslips from steep, unstable cliffs.
Initial proposals to protect the 1.8km of railway between Parsons Tunnel and Teignmouth were unveiled in June 2019 and include moving the railway away from the sections of cliff that pose the greatest hazard and out towards the sea.
The design would require some land reclamation to allow a buttress – a sloping rock structure to stabilise the cliffs and protect the railway – to be built, and to protect the realigned railway from the sea, a rock revetment or enhanced sea wall will also be required to absorb the energy of the waves and allow for the railway to be relocated away from the cliffs.
The proposals also include enhanced leisure access, cycling and walking routes and new amenity areas so that users of Holcombe beach continue to enjoy the space and views of the Devon coastline. A footpath on the sea wall next to the railway line would be maintained, but a new footway/cycle path would be created on the inside of the line between it and the cliffs.
A spokesman for Network Rail said that this round of consultation will include a much great detail that the first round and there will be exact measurements of how much beach will be affected and what the
They added: “The latest refined set of proposals will explain revised design, environmental research and construction and will be illustrated by a 10-metre long scale model of the site. This follows a lot of
Mike Gallop, route director for Network Rail, added: “We are grateful to everyone that took the time to provide their views in our first round of consultation, and I would encourage anyone who has an opinion on our proposals to provide us with feedback as these may lead to further refinements before we apply for consent to undertake the work.
Traffic and Travel
“During the first phase of public consultation we were able to meet many hundreds of local residents to get their thoughts on our plans to enhance the resilience of this nationally important stretch of railway line that connects the South West to the rest of the country. I’m certain that this second round will be equally as beneficial, and I look forward to hearing the feedback on our revised plans.”
| NR» 's list of consultation events: |
| Dawlish Warren | Langstone Cliff Hotel, Mount Pleasant Road, Dawlish Warren, EX7 0NA | Monday 20 January | 4pm to 8pm |
| Teignmouth | Teignmouth Golf Club, Haldon Moor, Teignmouth, TQ14 9NY | Tuesday 21 January | 4pm to 8pm |
| Newton Abbot | The Racecourse, Newton Road, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 3AF | Wednesday 22 January | 12pm to 4pm |
| Holcombe | Holcombe (Village Hall) Holcombe, Dawlish, EX7 0JT | Thursday 23 January | 12pm to 4pm |
| Torquay | Grand Hotel, Seafront, Torquay, TQ2 6N | Friday 24 January | 12pm to 4pm |
| Holcombe | Holcombe (Village Hall) Holcombe, Dawlish, EX7 0JT | Monday 3 February | 4pm to 8pm |
| Exeter | Mercure Exeter Rougemont Hotel, Queen Street, Exeter, EX4 3SP | Tuesday 4 February | 4pm to 8pm |
| Newton Abbot | The Racecourse, Newton Road, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 3AF | Wednesday 5 February | 4pm to 8pm |
| Teignmouth | Teignmouth Golf Club, Haldon Moor, Teignmouth, TQ14 9NY | Thursday 6 February | 12pm to 4pm |
| Dawlish | Council Chamber, Dawlish Town Council Office, The Manor House, | Friday 7 February | 12pm to 4pm |
| | Old Town Street, Dawlish, EX7 9AP |
I can't see any of NR's design or consultation material on line yet.
