Coastal Changes

Back in Devon again today. This was the beach at Sidmouth in East Devon this afternoon. I am curious about the extent to which the beach here has been radicallly changed. Two enormous stone breakwaters, which become island at high tide were placed close to the western side of the main beach. At low tide the effect of this is very marked. Much of the shingle has been moved or washed away and huge tracts of sand have appeared. For dogs and walkers out of season this has been a huge bonanza. The same could be said for families in the Summer months. much of the sand I think comes from the coastal erosion as the surrounding sandstone cliffs crumble and and are washed away by the tides. The effects of this are partiularly concerning at the eastern end of the beach where the rate of erosion has now resulted in plans for further coastal defences. It is hard to know to what extent the coastal changes are due to climate changes, Man-made interventions, seasonal variations in winds and tidal currents or the contribution of all of these. As I don't live in East Devon I do not know  what public feeling is about these changes, or whether the majority of the local population really care. There was once a small fishing community here but now sadly their voice is missing. I am not sure if anyone will read this but I felt I needed to write down some of my thoughts on this visually interesting and topical issue.