1. Seaton
Seaton is our most easterly location on the South coast.
Seaton Beach has a steep backshore with coarse slatey grey sand and pebbles and cobbles toward the lower foreshore.
Behind the road the land is low-lying and probably originally marshland. There is a small sand dune area above the river mouth on the south and west side of the road where a lagoon is trying to form and a small strip along the northern edge of the road. The road sits atop the dune ridge.
East, toward Downderry, there is a vertical concrete seawall and then rock armour.
To the west, along the right bank of the current course of the River Seaton on the beach, there is a mix of concrete-sprayed rock and gabions for cliff erosion protection.
Road infrastructure and transport links are particular issues at Seaton, in relation to coastal erosion either side of the beach and potential dune area.
Walkover report and photos of 23 September 2021
IssuesCoastal community and infrastructure threatened by sea level rise. No dunes present, beach severely constrained by defences and car parking. Geomorphologically very dynamic in response to both coastal storms and fluvial outflows. High flood risk. Coarse beach material and not certain if historically dunes were present.
Potential Actions
Create extra width by setting back defences, re-aligning Bridge Rd, relocating parking and other non-residential assets, and creating conditions for dune growth (or at least a healthy beach roll-back if dunes can’t be encouraged) – link through into the space provided by Seaton Valley Country Park to create a green-blue corridor.
Community Groups
None yet identified.
Key Stakeholders
- Deviock Parish Council,
- Cornwall Council.
CCMA potential
Advanced
Shoreline Management Plan
SMP Management Area: MA02
SMP Policy Unit: PU2.3
SMP Policies:
- Present - Hold the Line
- Transition - Managed Realignment
- Target - No Active Intervention
Link to SMP Chapter 4 assessment for Management Area 02
Potential Actions
Create extra width by setting back defences, re-aligning Bridge Rd, relocating parking and other non-residential assets, and creating conditions for dune growth (or at least a healthy beach roll-back if dunes can’t be encouraged) – link through into the space provided by Seaton Valley Country Park to create a green-blue corridor.
Community Groups
None yet identified.
Key Stakeholders
- Deviock Parish Council,
- Cornwall Council.
Advanced
Shoreline Management Plan
SMP Management Area: MA02
SMP Policy Unit: PU2.3
SMP Policies:
- Present - Hold the Line
- Transition - Managed Realignment
- Target - No Active Intervention
A link to the Seaton page on the 'Let's Talk Cornwall' website will appear here in due course.