A COUNCIL scheme to improve coastal defences on a section of a Christchurch beach has been given the green light.

The new layout for the seafront walkway is due to be completed by the end of the year.

The proposals to raise a 250m section of Avon Beach promenade by 90cm and widen the seafront path by 1.5m were unanimously approved by Christchurch Borough Council's planning committee on Thursday (12.10).

The development, which is going to cost in the region of £120,000, will commence within weeks.

The plans also include erecting a new concrete wall behind the beach huts.

The local authority scheme aims to reduce the risk of erosion to the tree-lined cliff frontage behind the beach huts and lower the flood risk at Avon Beach.

Mudeford and Friars Cliff ward councillor Trevor Watts, who proposed the unanimously approved motion, said: "I went to a very robust meeting of a local residents' association where this was discussed at great depth.

"I personally think our engineers, and they are professional people in what they do, have come up with a robust good scheme to help with the underlying problem we have around this coast of coastal erosion.

"In their opinion, this will hopefully stave coastal erosion and as part of our coastal management strategy I will be supporting this.

"I would also like to thank the officers for taking time doing what was a comprehensive consultation and not only engaging with the community at residents' association meetings, they had open evenings at the beach and there is a lot of stuff online about this and a lot of officers have attended a lot of meetings to inform the members of the public.

"I trust our engineers, they are the professionals."

Despite 17 objections from residents to the scheme and concerns raised by both Christchurch Citizens' Association and Christchurch Joint Residents' Association.

The council's development management manager Lynda King said to the committee these comments largely focused on matters not relevant when making a decision on planning grounds as members were being asked to do.

Fellow ward councillor Claire Bath, in giving support to the application, said: "I feel these sea defences will in fact protect that area from further erosion, protect vegetation that is there at the moment for future generations to enjoy.

"The coastal sea defences are necessary as myself and my fellow ward councillor witnessed after the Valentine's Day storms there was devastating effect when the sea came crashing in and broke up all of the paving there.

"It cost the council a lot of money to repair at the time and there was also the damage that was then done to the banks behind.

"The scheme suggested is a good one and I'm sure that once it's done and in place it will improve the area and visual amenity area and also widen the promenade for people going to and fro which sometimes can be particularly congested on nice days during the winter and summer."