The recent cliff falls are shocking, but work is underway to tackle coastal erosion at Sidmouth.

My wife, children, and I are keen walkers of the coast path.

I find it humbling to look out to sea and feel insignificant against the vast English Channel and the Atlantic Ocean beyond it.

I feel restored afterwards – with renewed faith.

It’s a sign of the times that we see large sections of our distinctive red cliffs tumble hundreds of feet to the pebble beach below.

It’s a pattern that has grown ever more common, especially around Sidmouth.

For most of us, it’s sad to see the cliffs eroding and frustrating to see the coast path continually shift inland.

But for residents who live at the top of Salcombe Hill or above Jacob’s Ladder beach, it must be frightening.

I was shocked to see the most recent two very huge cliff falls, within a few weeks of each other at either end of the town’s beach.

The Environment Agency informs us that the two landslips were the result of significant rain and wet weather over a long period; it was not related to coastal erosion from the sea on this occasion.

Obviously, there is not a complete fix that we can come up with, locally.

We can only hope that governments, businesses, and individuals join the global effort to prevent climate breakdown, which could cause terrible damage to many communities.

Some mitigations are being worked up though.

East Devon District Council is working with the Environment Agency and Natural England, to protect the cliffs from erosion by the sea.

There is £20m of Government funding being put towards new breakwaters; rocks will shore up the base of the cliffs and in 2026, residents are likely to see the works start.

I am reassured that most people recognise that the cliffs will continue to retreat inland, even though this should mean minor detours to the coast path.

I will continue to take an active interest in the protection of the natural beauty that is our coastline.

I look forward to seeing work progress to protect the cliffs and beach as much as possible.

I hope that this will mean that those of us who like to walk along the coast can still feel the enormity of creation, and can continue to feel small.