Local residents turned out in force at the weekend to look at an exhibition on proposals for the future management of Slapton Line and the A379 road.

The exhibition kick-started a massive consultation exercise to get the views of local residents, landowners and businesses on options for dealing with future storm damage to Slapton Line and the road that runs along it.

Consultants Scott Wilson have spent the best part of a year on the first phase of a major study which looks at all the issues that affect the Line, the road and the community.

Research on environmental aspects such as storm patterns, and wave and shingle movement, has combined with a long, hard look at social, business and community needs to provide a set of possible options for managing erosion to the Line and maintaining a road link in the years to come.

Of the many scenarios put forward, which range from 'doing nothing' to installing major 'hard defences', the consultants have narrowed their choice down to three feasible alternatives. Their most preferred strategy would be to re-align the road along the shingle ridge as and when necessary.

Other options are beach recycling (moving the shingle along the beach to strengthen vulnerable areas) and beach replenishment (providing additional shingle to the beach).

The consultants also recommend the 'do nothing' option goes forward to the next stage of the study. This is for the sake of comparison and as a fall back option if funding is not available for their three preferred options. Sourcing funding will be critical for implementing any of the options.

They say there is no reason to believe that any breach of the Line or the road is imminent. Freak conditions, such as those that caused storm damage to the road in January 2001, can not be ruled out. However, the Line will become more susceptible to rising sea levels, changing weather patterns, and increased storm activity. Combined with other natural forces, over hundreds of years, these factors will result in the shingle barrier gradually moving inland, or eventually disappearing altogether, and a total loss of the road.

The community has until January 14 to consider the report and respond before the results are reported to the Slapton Line Partnership (Devon County Council, South Hams District Council and English Nature) - the body responsible for looking at Slapton Line's future management.

Phase two of the consultants' study will start in early 2005, when work will begin on a shortlist of preferred options. Phase three - putting together a workable plan, is due for completion by July 2005.

Speaking on behalf of the Slapton Line Partnership, SHDC Chief Executive Ruth Bagley said: "We wanted to look at as many options as we could for keeping the A379 intact into the foreseeable future. Obviously some of the options are more feasible than others, bearing in mind the constraints on us in terms of time, cost and environmental impact.
"Now we need to make sure the community has had an opportunity to respond to the report so far and the choices on offer. The success of future plans will be entirely dependent upon their support."

Scott Wilson's report can be seen via local parish council clerks, at libraries and council offices in Kingsbridge and Dartmouth, and at SHDC's head office, Follaton House, Totnes.

An executive summary of the report is on the Slapton Line Partnership website at www.slaptonlinepartnership.co.uk, along with a copy of the consultation questionnaire.