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Thursday 3 March 2016

The geology of Pennington Point >>> 'a useful resource for the Beach Management Plan?'

The cliff falls at Pennington Point have been well documented:
Futures Forum: Pennington Point: more cliff falls
Futures Forum: Pennington Point: latest cliff falls
Futures Forum: Pennington Point: 1950 and 2013
Futures Forum: Pennington Point: 1983 and 2013
Futures Forum: Pennington Point

And there are studies of the currents and movements of the sea in Lyme Bay:
Futures Forum: Longshore drift at Sidmouth
Futures Forum: Longshore drift at Sidmouth: photographs from the shore

Meanwhile, there have been numerous announcements over the years:
Futures Forum: 28th January 2003: "EDDC is proposing a coast protection scheme aimed at reducing the rate of cliff erosion at Pennington Point. The scheme would protect the properties located at the top of Salcombe Hill and the Alma Bridge."
Futures Forum: 23rd July 2009: "DCC supports the ‘hold the line’ policy option for continued investment in maintaining existing coastal defences to prevent flooding and erosion, and to leave undeveloped and open coast to evolve naturally."
Futures Forum: 24th April 2011: 'Popular Alma Bridge, a gateway to Salcombe Hill for a quarter of a million residents and visitors every year, is just 24 months and eight metres away from being lost forever, campaigning cliff-top residents fear'

There has been some discussion on the Streetlife network on the geology of the area - and how understanding it might be of help to the Beach Management Plan:

Geology and erosion at Sidmouth

    Derek G
    A truly fascinating & comprehensive look at Sidmouth geology by Dr. Ian West. Well worth looking at, but a lot to absorb.
    Peter M
    Thanks Mary. I've been looking for something like this. I'm still trying to work out why what I see as Yellow rock on the flat cliffs to our West is in fact Greenstone!
    Polarising Plebeian
    Raw and fascinating science, very academic, almost not comprehensible for non-geologists. Thinking of Pennington Point, it does demonstrate how many layers exist between scientific fact finding and any eventual decisions by politicians for coastal protection.

    (And hasn't the way how websites are made changed quite a bit since 1997)
    Mary W-T
    PP, yes it is an old fashioned presentation but the pictures don't lie. Surely this is a useful resource for the Beach Management Plan?
    Old Fozzie
    It's called Greensand not stone, here's an explanation from the web.
    "The name Greensand originated from the slightly greenish colour of the rocks. This colour is due to the presence of an iron-rich mineral called glauconite. However, when the rocks are exposed to air or water the rock is oxidised and turns to a rusty yellow or brown colour"
    Peter M
    Thanks Old Fozzie. I read later that it was a weathering issue. But I shall never look at the magnificent outcrop  which is Golden Cap near Seatown with quite the same eyes again!
    Old Fozzie
    Just to put you off it a bit more...
    I believe it's also a prime source of Radon...

    Streetlife | Geology and erosion at Sidmouth

    Here is the website referred to: It is truly remarkable in the detail of information presented, with some excellent photographs:
    Geology of Sidmouth, and Ladram Bay, Devon
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