Project to prevent coastline from slipping into the sea

WORK to prevent erosion along a stretch of Yorkshire's most picturesque coastline is due to be given the go-ahead this week.

An action plan has been drawn up for a 15-mile stretch between Whitby's Abbey Cliffs and Hundale Point in Cloughton, including the famous Robin Hood's Bay.

The bay has a history of crumbling cliffs, which led to most of the original main road, King Street, tumbling into the sea in 1780.

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Since the 18th century, more than 200 homes have become casualties of erosion despite a 50ft high concrete sea wall being anchored into the cliff in 1975 to defend "the landing" – a section of cliff between the village slipway and Ground Wyke Hole.

Scarborough Borough Council is due to approve proposals on Friday to carry out ground investigations in the Mount Pleasant area of Robin Hood's Bay as part of the 240,000 scheme.

Contractors from Geotechnics Limited are being lined up

to carry out the investigations, which will involve drilling

boreholes and taking soil

samples from sites on Mount Pleasant.

The council's head of technical services, John Riby, said: "The decision to produce a coastal

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strategy was approved by the cabinet in September 2007 and has now reached a stage where a ground investigation of Mount Pleasant in Robin Hood's Bay is needed.

"The council is now looking to appoint an experienced contractor to undertake the ground investigation."

When the Robin Hood's Bay coastal strategy study is completed, it will develop the policy for the management of the stretch of coast which is famed for its stunning views out across the North Sea.

The project is being funded by the Environment Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.