MORE than £34 million is set to be spent on sea defences to safeguard the Essex coastline.After two years of research, Tendring District Council has drawn up plans for major coastal protection work in Clacton-on-Sea and Holland-on-Sea from Martello Bay to Holland Haven.

MORE than £34 million is set to be spent on sea defences to safeguard the Essex coastline.

After two years of research, Tendring District Council has drawn up plans for major coastal protection work in Clacton-on-Sea and Holland-on-Sea from Martello Bay to Holland Haven.

Without the defences the coast will erode, causing an estimated £69.9 million worth of damage to buildings, amenities and infrastructure.

The three-stage project involves removing the groynes and building-up the beaches with imported sand so the sea walls can be protected from breaking waves.

To stop the beach being swept away in stormy conditions, 13 rock breakwaters will be built offshore to quell the waves.

John Ryan, assistant head of technical services, said: "This work is vital to ensure the sea defences do not fail. This long-term strategy will secure the coastline for another 50 years. This will have a positive impact on the community and will boost tourism in the area.

"If the groynes are removed, the beaches will no longer be compartmentalised and if they are built-up with sand they will not become submerged at high tide.

"We will then have wide beaches, which will be beneficial for the people of Clacton as there is pressure on beach space at the moment."

Urgent repairs are needed to stop the sea wall failing at Cliff Road in Holland, where beaches are lowest and the defences are weakest.

The council will build three breakwaters there and recharge the beach as part of phase one of the initiative, which it hopes it will be able to start next year at a cost of more than £10 million.

Phase two will see five breakwaters added along the coastline about five years later and stage three will come into effect in approximately 20 years, when a further five breakwaters will be built to protect the newly refurbished defences around the pier.

The council is expecting to secure 75 per cent of the money for the scheme from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

The rest of the funding will be generated from borrowing and Government grants. The council also hopes to secure financial backing from Essex County Council.

Cabinet members will meet on Wednesday to discuss the scheme and decide whether to approve the proposals.