The chosen scheme is an integrated multi purpose coastal defence and harbour improvements scheme. This responds to the need for West Bay to regenerate economically, to develop as a tourist resort and provide for the local fishing industry as well as to protect West Bay from flooding and coastal erosion.

Much public consultation went on to get the views of local people and visitors as to what they hoped the scheme would be like.The coastal defence issues will continue to be a challenge, as will the task of flood prevention, but the 2002 scheme is a major step forward in defending West Bay.

For more information, see the following websites

www.westdorset.com for tourism information
www.jurassiccoast.com for information on Dorset's Jurassic coast

Figure 32 shows an aerial photograph of construction of the scheme in August 2003.

Acknowledgements

The information presented here is based on West Dorset District Council's engineers' reports and research from Hydraulic Research Wallingford and consulting engineers Posford Haskoning, which formed the basis of the bid for funding for the scheme from DEFRA.

Thanks are due to the main contractor Costains for allowing the use of their material and to West Dorset Education Industry Partnership and West Dorset District Council for funding this case study.

Funding has also come from the district council as part of its commitment to spreading best practice following the award of Beacon Status 2003/04 for efforts to protect and enhance the quality of the built environment.

Thanks to Bridport Museum, Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, Brian G W Nicholas, Professor D Brunsden and M E Payne for their photographs.

Thanks to Dr Ian West of the School of Ocean and Earth Science, Southampton University, for permission to use the coastal geology section diagram.

Special thanks go to Maggie Stone for much help and support.