UK village in ‘race against time’ as its risks being washed away (Image: William Dax / SWNS)
An entire UK village could be washed away forever as residents are facing a ‘race against time’ to save their homes.
The popular Devon coastal village, Torcross, has been victim to several severe storms.
Last winter properties were damaged, with a huge section of the main road, the A379, washed away.
Now, the Environment Agency (EA) has agreed to a £19.8m improvement scheme that should “buy the community some time”.
The works are due to begin this summer and will see 55,000 tonnes of rock re-positioned in front of the current sea defences.
This will create a temporary protective line of rock armour.
A £20 million fund has been put into saving the village (Image: William Dax / SWNS)
The car park storm breach is also set to be repaired by June 2027, along with rock revetment work.
Despite the feeling of “total jubilation” following the announcement of funding, residents still fear that the sea defences will not be completed in time to save their home.
Hannah Miller, general manager at Start Bay Inn, said it was “a race against time” to get the work done.
She said: “If the storms are anything like they were this year and we don’t have that in place, then it’s going to be a pretty bleak future”.
In February villagers were left stranded amid 12ft waves during the storm.
Many properties were damaged in the storms (Image: William Dax / SWNS)
Despite the huge fund, the repair of Slapton Line (the A379), is not covered by the planned Environment Agency project.
The 300-strong community village has argued that this road is a “lifeline to the village” and the closure has made access and transport increasingly difficult.
The route connecting Torcross and the neighbouring village of Slapton was damaged when sea defences were destroyed in January’s storms, before being further destroyed in February.
At the time Lib-Dem MP, Caroline Voaden, is reported to have told locals the road may be closed for a year “at least”.
When probed at Prime Minister’s Questions Sir Keir Starmer said the damage was “very concerning” and the Government was investing to enhance flood and coastal defences.
George Arnison, coastal engineer for the EA, said while the scheme was “value for money”, it was not a permanent solution and there were “no easy answers”.
He added: “It will buy the community some time, buy the government some time, buy the Environment Agency some time, to think through what is the long term future here?”
