Council sets aside £1.4m for landslip-hit cliffs

Beach huts were pushed across the promenade during a cliff fall in October 2024

A council has earmarked £1.4m to strengthen cliffs along a stretch of coastline after a series of landslips.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council said the money would fund work to help bolster the stability of cliffs following slips at West Cliff and East Cliff that cut off beach huts and sections of the promenade.

Most of the 15.5 miles (25km) of sea cliffs and chines along the area's coastline are managed by the council.

The authority said the work was needed to reduce the risk of further landslips and "increase the safety of BCP's iconic seafront". BCP's cabinet has recommended allocating the funding - it will go to full council at a later date.

BCP Council said: "Failure to invest would increase the risk of further landslips, road and promenade closures which, in turn, could restrict public use."

Before cliff material fell away in early October last year, visitors to the beach reported hearing loud cracking noises as tree and shrub roots ripped from the ground.

Mobile phone footage of the fall also captured the moment a woman and her dog ran to the beach as the landslip thrust about 14 beach huts across the seafront path.

Rangers keep a close eye on the goat enclosures near the previous landslips

Councillor Andy Hadley, cabinet member for climate response, environment and energy, said: "Our cliffs are a defining feature of the BCP coastline, but they require proactive management to keep people safe and protect vital infrastructure.

"This investment is not just about addressing immediate risks – it's about laying the foundations for a sustainable, long-term strategy that helps protect our coastline for years into the future.

"Work that we undertake will prioritise retaining the local access points and pathways to beaches that are well-loved."

Following the landslips, an extended wire fence and warning signs were put in place along with a temporary pathway at West Cliff and the promenade was narrowed at East Cliff.

The herd of about 50 goats that graze the steep cliffs to keep the vegetation under control between West Cliff and Southbourne in Bournemouth were not affected.