SLAPTON SANDS

Focus on the issues facing the

area as a result of coastal erosion
Most of the
following slides
were taken in this
area
Slapton Sands
• Slapton Sands is a
barrier beach
• Behind the barrier is
Slapton Ley (a
lagoon).
• The main road runs
along the barrier
beach
Slapton Sands
• In the winter of 2000 – 1,
easterly gales combined
with a high tide
overtopped the beach.
• The main A379
(Dartmouth to
Kingsbridge rd) was
severely eroded.
Slapton Sands

• Rip rap was quickly

placed to protect the
remainder of the
beach from further
attack.
• For a while the road
was closed to traffic,
before re-opening
with single line traffic
& traffic lights.
Slapton Sands
• The beach car
park at Slapton
was also heavily
eroded by the
same gales
Slapton Sands
• The car park was
quickly protected,
from further attack,
by emplacing these
concrete links
Slapton Sands
• This photograph
taken in 2003
shows that the
links, themselves
were coming
under attack
Slapton Sands
• This shows that
behind the links
geotextiles were
emplaced to try to
stop the flow of
water.
Slapton Sands
• Part of the car
park has had to
be fenced off,
reducing its
capacity.
 Slapton Sands
• In 2001 the road had to be temporarily closed.
• When re-opened there was a new road was
single tracked with signal control.
• The road is vital to the local economy as it is
the main access route for the local villages
(Torcross, Slapton, Strete etc).
• The local economy is dependant on tourism &
any reduction in access will have major
implications for the economy.
Slapton Sands
• The newly
constructed,
temporary single
track road.
• This road was
constructed in 6
days
Slapton Sands
• In 2002 the road
was realigned
50M inland
Slapton Sands
• This is where the
road bends inland.
• The route of the
old road can
clearly be seen
Slapton Sands
• To protect the new
road a large sand
berm was
constructed.
Slapton Sands
• This shows the
berm & the full
width of the
beach
Slapton Sands
• The old road is now
being removed & the
area re-seeded to
allow the vegetation
to regenerate.
• This recolonisation
will further protect the
road
Slapton Sands
• A final look back
south along the
new road
• The old road
Summary