Weymouth Castle Cove Beach could get £20,000 for access steps

Safety concerns closed the sloping footpath to Weymouth's Castle Cove Beach in 2013

A project to rebuild steps to a beach that has been deserted for five years following a landslip could receive a £20,000 boost.

Friends of Castle Cove Beach charity has already raised £10,000.

A decision by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council to award the extra cash has been deferred while the county's nine councils prepare to merge.

Planning permission for the steps and lease for access for 99 years were agreed in June.

Initially the charity said it had been awarded the cash.

However, the council clarified the authority to approve loans and grants had been delegated to a council officer in consultation with its budget working group, at a management committee meeting on Tuesday.

The charity said it hoped to have "more conclusive news" at the budget working group's next meeting on 10 September.

The sloping footpath was resurfaced in December

Val Graves, treasurer of Friends of Castle Cove Beach, added "We are pleased that progress is being made with our grant application."

Ms Graves said the group would continue raising cash through ongoing crowdfunding, including for repairs and insurance.

The right of way has not yet been formally granted, though Friends of Castle Cove Beach has submitted an application to the county council.

A final decision will be made by the planning inspectorate.

The access slope that leads to where the steps used to be was resurfaced and reopened in December.

It had been originally shut after cracks appeared and a section of steps at the bottom was taken away by the borough council.

Dorset's nine councils are expected merge into two unitary authorities next April.

Under the plans Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch will join forces.

A second council will be formed from Dorset County Council, East Dorset, North Dorset, Purbeck, Weymouth & Portland and West Dorset.