Saving Lyme Regis from the sea : recent geological investigations at Lyme Regis, Dorset

The south coast resort of Lyme Regis is threatened by a combination of marine erosion and large landslips. The geological factors that influence the rapid rates of marine erosion and consequential cliff and slope movements in coastal areas such as this are difficult to determine. Individual sites within the town can be adversely affected by processes and events that occur in much larger adjacent onshore and offshore areas. However, coastal sites have the advantage of being amenable to a wide range of data-collection methods which can be combined to provide the detailed three-dimensional geological and geomorphological models on which to base proposals for remedial works. Multidisciplinary studies carried out at Lyme Regis in advance of detailed site investigations of the most threatened areas have included topographical surveys and the preparation of large-scale geological maps in the onshore area along with sidescan-sonar, bathymetric and seismic-reflection surveys in the offshore area.