A MUCH-LOVED Devonshire beach and pier could soon be forced to close.
Teignmouth beach and pier in Devon are popular spots for holidaymakers in the summer months.
However, both could soon disappear.
It comes as work to stop erosion taking parts of the beach away may not be completed until 2030.
According to the Mid-Devon Advertiser, the Environment Agency (EA) is working on a case to secure Government money for the work.
Reportedly, erosion has sped over the past few years and as a result, some of the structural piles holding up the pier have been exposed.
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A petition calling for urgent action to save the beach and pier has been signed by over 900 people.
While coastal erosion is natural, there is a risk of safety if it continues at Teignmouth Beach.
A spokesperson for the EA said: “Teignmouth seafront is an important local landmark.
“This work is ongoing, but the funding needed to develop the project further is not currently available.”
A decision on funding is unlikely to occur before 2028/2029, according to the EA.
If it is approved then, work would be set to be completed by 2030.
Back in January, part of the historic pier washed away and the sea wall next to the railway line crumbled due to storm damage.
In fact, over the years the pier has suffered several closures due to storm damage.
One of the most notable closures was in 2014, when massive waves and high winds damaged multiple parts of the pier forcing it to close for seven months.
Since 2014 and to date, the wider 30- metre deck at the end of the pier has been closed as it is deemed unsafe.
This is the part of the pier that then fell into the sea earlier this year.
With the pier’s structure now exposed, if another storm were to happen it could damage the pier further.
This could result in the local council cordoning off the beach and shutting the pier for safety reasons.
Teignmouth Grand Pier was built between 1865 and 1867 and used to be a landing stage for steamboats.
The 190-metre-long pier then became a popular tourist destination.
At one point, the pier was home to a ballroom at its end, however this was later destroyed in a fire.
There would be performances on the pier too including ‘Peg-leg Pete’ who was a one-legged performer that would set himself on fire before jumping into the sea.
Today, the pier features a range of amusement arcades and penny slot machines.