A ONE-DAY exhibition ahead of a new £5million cliff stabilisation project attracted more than 70 intrigued residents.

People had the chance to discover the ins and outs of Tendring Council’s new scheme, being carried out with engineering consultancy firm Mott MacDonald, to enhance the cliffs along the Clacton to Holland coastline.

It was held at the Kings Cliff Hotel in Holland-on-Sea where 80 per cent of attendants said they were keen for the council to go ahead with the project in a survey.

This was just the first in a number of public engagement exercises still to be held.

Councillor Nick Turner, responsible for commercialisation, said measures put in place between the 50s and 60s are now coming to the end of their life.

He said: “The money for this work has come about due to the outstanding success of the coastal protection scheme completed in October 2015, which came in ahead of time and under budget.

“It has given us the opportunity to tackle the unstable state of the cliffs and make significant improvements, which will also provide the chance to consider additional enhancements and facilities.

“This initiative will be carried out with minimal disruption to the public and other users, and we will be informing residents what is happening along the way.”

Shallow landslides have led to the closure of slope paths and the removal of some beach huts.

Investigations and ground surveys are to take place over the coming months on cliffs east of Clacton Pier.

Phase one is currently out to tender and expected to get underway in February or March.

The benefits of the programme are said to be include cost-effective maintenance of the cliffs, an improved public realm and experience, and restoration of beach huts.