Charmouth

The community

The seafront at Charmouth consists of a wide sandy beach which is split through the middle by the River Char. The eastern end of the beach is accessible via a footbridge over the river, from the car park off Lower Sea Lane. The area focused on for this study consists of the Parish owned foreshore car park and a former cement factory which houses a café, fossil shop, a retail outlet and the Heritage Coast Centre.

Coastal defences

The Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre, toilet block and car park are currently defended by a stepped sea wall, a rock groyne and rock armour sited to the west of the River Char.

Draft Shoreline Management Plan 2: Policy and Implications

The short term policy for the sea front is ‘Hold the Line', meaning the sea wall and rock armour will be maintained for the next 25 years. This policy reflects the 50-70 year design life of the defence scheme constructed in the late 1980's. The medium and long term policy (between 2030 - 2110) will move towards ‘No Active Intervention' along the sea front and cliffs to the west of Charmouth, and ‘Managed Realignment' along the mouth of the river. This will mean no further maintenance of the current sea wall and rock groynes or construction of new coastal defence schemes.

The change in the draft SMP2 policy will result in the eventual closure and loss of the Heritage Coast Centre and part of the Parish owned car park. However, as with many other areas along the Jurassic Coast, changes to the area will occur through a catastrophic storm event rather than gradual erosional processes.

Beyond this area, the footbridge over the River Char will remain vulnerable to a catastrophic storm event despite being recently replaced. The South West Coast Path either side of Charmouth will be subject to further disruption in the future caused by landslides.

Click here to find out more about the Shoreline Management Plan.

The Issues

The Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre is a key visitor facility for the World Heritage Site and receives approximately 87,000 visitors a year. The café and businesses on the ground floor also provide a service to both locals and tourists. The Centre provides one of the best opportunities on the 95 miles of the Jurassic Coast to see fossils found in the surrounding areas. It also plays a key role in ensuring public safety, giving advice on how to enjoy the area and collect fossils safely. However, due to its exposed position, the building is vulnerable to wave attack which, if resulting in the closure of the centre, could have significant implications for Charmouth's economy. The cliff top properties to the west of the Heritage Coast Centre will also become increasingly exposed to the risk of erosion, including episodic landslides.

Charmouth is a Gateway town to the Jurassic Coast. To find out more information click here.

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Sidmouth

Location: Sidmouth lies on the East Devon coast between Branscombe and Budleigh Salterton. It has its own Town Council.
Population: Sidmouth has a population of approximately 14,400, of which 35% are above retirement age.
Designations: Sidmouth is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
Charmouth

Location: Charmouth lies on the West Dorset coast between Lyme Regis and Bridport (west of Seatown). It has its own Parish Council.
Population: The parish has a population of 1,300 in 850 residential houses (20% are second homes/holiday homes).
Designations: Charmouth is within Dorset's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
Seatown

Location: Seatown lies on the West Dorset coast between Lyme Regis and Bridport (east of Charmouth) and falls within Chideock Parish Council.
Population: The parish has a population of 600 with 36% being over retirement age. Of this population, there are 20 residential address points within Seatown.
Designations: The whole area falls within Dorset's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), with some areas designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The whole coast frontage is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
Preston Beach Road, Weymouth

Location: The Preston Beach Road is the main road (A353) connecting Weymouth to Overcombe and Preston. Preston is located North-East of Weymouth, between Broadwey and Osmington and falls within the Weymouth and Portland District Coucil.
Population: Preston has a population of approximately 5,000 with 2,450 residential properties.
Designations: Lodmoor Nature Reserve lies behind the Preston Beach Road and is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Bowleaze Cove (north end of Preston Beach Road) is encompassed by a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
Ringstead

Location: Ringstead lies on the Dorset coast between Preston (near Weymouth) and Lulworth, on the boundary between Osmington Parish and Owermoigne Parish.
Population: 580 in Osmington Parish and 490 in Owermoigne Parish. There are 75 residential address points in Ringstead, half of which are caravans.
Designations: The whole area falls within Dorset's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), with the sea front designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
North Swanage

Location: Swanage is in The Purbeck, between Durlston and Studland. North Swanage lies North of the Swanage town centre and includes the Ulwell Road area. It lies within Swanage Town Council.
Population: North Swanage and the Ulwell area has a population of 1,640 with approximately 1000 residential properties.
Designations: The whole area falls within Dorset's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the coast designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

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