Liberal Democrat MP for South Devon Caroline Voaden is calling for urgent action to save communities like Torcross and tackle the much wider impact.
“Start Bay isn’t unique, around England’s coastline many communities are facing a version of what’s happening here,” she said.
“Whether it’s coastal erosion or extreme heat, our governments have been on the back foot for years and we’ve wasted so many opportunities to prepare for changing climate.
“There’s no more time to waste – we have to find the political will and the money to support our climate vulnerable communities.”
The Environment Agency project does not include the repair of the A379 coastal road – known as the Slapton Line – which was also partly washed away and has been closed since February.
A separate bid for government funding has been made to help cover the estimated £20m repair bill for the route.
Meanwhile Bude in Cornwall is part way through a £3m project to help coastal communities adapt to coastal erosion and climate change, as part of the Defra and EA backed Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme (CTAP) , externalprogramme.
In June, the Climate Change Committee published its report into the progress being made on the UK Government’s progress to date in reducing emissions,, external saying it was not moving fast enough to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to protect households and businesses from volatile fossil fuel prices.
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said the government was taking action.
“We are acting to protect people and places from the impacts of climate change that are already being felt across the UK – from flooding to extreme heat and drought,” she said.
“We have already invested a record £2.65bn to repair and build flood defences, protecting tens of thousands of homes and businesses, and have deployed the largest nature-friendly farming budget in history to support sustainable food production and security.
“Robust, independent science is essential and we will carefully consider the Climate Change Committee’s latest recommendations to drive further action.”
