REPLACEMENT steps to the beach at a Christchurch beauty spot could cost at least £100,000.

The steps at Highcliffe cliff top, known as Culmore steps, were removed nearly a year ago after they became rotten, and have not been replaced.

But a petition signed by nearly 700 residents, calling for new steps to be installed, was presented to full council by former councillor, Malcolm Mawbey earlier this month.

While calling for new steps at the site, the petition said nearby alternative routes to the beach were not suitable for many people, especially considering the local demographic.

A report presented to members of the community services committee at Christchurch council last week, saw officers recommend the steps were not replaced.

The council were not under any legal obligation to replace the steps, it said, which were sited on cliff slopes protected by a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest).

This meant any new steps would have to be installed after full consultation with Natural England’s geological specialists.

Members heard a “ball park” cost would be at least £100,000 with the possibility of costs rising before installation.

The report added: “The council currently has no budget assigned to the replacement of Culmore Steps, and therefore any potential replacement project would require capital funding to be allocated to it.

“Members will be aware of the financial pressures the Council is under both now, and in the future, so potentially expensive capital projects such as this will need to be evaluated against current priorities across the borough.”

But despite a recommendation from officers that replacing the steps was unnecessary, Cllr Vicky Hallam, ward member for Highcliffe said she would like the options considered and brought back to committee.

She was supported by Trish Jamieson who said the options of replacement should be looked at “deeper” rather than guessing at the cost.

Members voted in favour of officers investigating further options for alternative design of steps.

A report to include costs will be brought back to the committee for further consideration at a later date.