Consultation is under way on new proposals which will allow greater flexibility in managing one of Suffolk’s most vulnerable stretches of coastline.

The coast at Thorpeness is under constant threat from the North Sea, which battered its cliffs in early autumn storms and meant emergency repair work was required.

Suffolk Coastal said the consultation exercise launched yesterday is aimed at gauging public support for changing the Shoreline Management Policy for Thorpeness.

Deputy council leader Andy Smith said: “We recognise that this is a rather technical area. However, as recent events have demonstrated, we need to be able to react quickly to events on the coastline at Thorpeness.

“In short, the suggested change is to allow us more options for managing the coastline in the Thorpeness area.

“It will allow us to be more flexible in our response to issues on this stretch of the coastline, so is a better fit to our intentions in managing this coastline in the future.

“The stretch of coastline is expected to continue to be eroded by the sea.

“This potential change in the policy does not mean that it will now be automatically defended but it does allow greater flexibility for the district council to work with the local community to develop a way forward that meets all our needs.

“Although the suggested change has been agreed in principle by the Suffolk Coast Forum, including organisations such as Natural England and the Environment Agency, we feel that it is important that local people have this opportunity to have their say about the proposal and raise any questions or concerns they may have.”

Mr Smith, who has responsibility for coastal management issues, said a special drop-in event is being staged at The Mess café in Thorpeness from 2pm to 7pm on Friday, November 29, when people can meet and talk through the proposals with the council’s coastal management team.

Comments can be sent to Thorpeness Consultation, c/o Bill Parker, Head of Coastal Management, Suffolk Coastal District Council, Melton Hill, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1AU, by December 13.