Work is due to start this week as a major sea defence and enhancement project along the Tendring coastline takes a step forward.

Gound investigation works are to begin on beaches east of Clacton Pier in preparation for the scheme.

Nick Turner, Tendring District Council’s cabinet member for environment and coast protection, said: “This is a further landmark in our bid to take this project forward and we are beginning to create the critical mass we need.

“We are not counting our chickens and we still need to get financial and technical approval from the Environment Agency but we are moving in the right direction.”

The final stage of the bid for the scheme between Clacton Pier and Holland Haven was submitted to the Environment Agency in May with a decision expected to be made in the autumn.

Provided the project gets the go-ahead, the target is to start work in 2014/15.

Mr Turner said that while the timing of the ground investigation works is not ideal, coming in the summer season, it cannot be avoided if the council wants to keep the project on schedule.

“The beaches involved are not the busiest of beaches and are seriously lacking in sand,” he added.

“However, if the scheme does get the green light it will greatly improve them and they are likely to be far more popular in the future.

“We feel that any disruption and inconvenience to visitors and residents will be minimal and we felt it was important to keep everyone up to date and in touch with what the work is all about.”

The council has agreed to consultants, Mott Macdonald’s option of fishtail groynes as well as a beach recharge of sand and shingle.