COASTAL erosion in Barrow is being targeted as part of a £200 million government fund.

Westmorland and Furness Council and the Our Futures Coast have announced they will be holding a number of sessions with residents and local councillors in Walney to hear concerns, thoughts and ideas related to coastal erosion at West Shore Park.

Ten years ago the sea was far enough back from West Shore Park that a road ran between the community and the beach, giving access to the north of the island. The road was badly damaged by a storm in 2013 and has deteriorated further since then.

The council say a coastal process study will be undertaken, using data being collected by the mobile radar station and is expected to be complete in autumn this year. This will allow the authority to understand what can or cannot be achieved to stabilise the coast.

Cabinet member for climate and biodiversity councillor Giles Archibald said: “This study is key to understanding what erosion is happening, how quickly and what we can do to manage it. An important part of this work is working with our project to ensure that local residents and the public are involved in conversations to explore how we can adapt to a changing coast. Their feedback will help us to shape and inform future plans and strategies which are environmentally and economically sustainable.”

The Our Future Coast project has received £200 million from the government to manage coastal flooding and erosion risks across the North West. West Shore Park in Barrow is one of 14 locations to be targeted by the Our Future Coast project.

MP for Barrow and Furness Simon Fell previously said: “My team and I have long been pushing Westmorland and Furness Council to bring in new measures to protect homes and access ways from erosion at Earnse Bay, and across Walney as a whole.

“We have lobbied extensively for them to design and implement a strategy to deal with the challenges that the nature reserve, homeowners, walkers and road users are all too familiar with.

“I believe that in recent months, the council have taken some remedial action, but there is much more to be done.”

Representatives from the project team will be visiting individual residents this week and this will be followed up with an open drop-in session to the public on Tuesday February 6 at North Scale Community Centre from 4.30pm to 6.30pm.

The council say whilst data collection continues from the radar equipment next to the kite surfing café, the study scope will be developed to incorporate the feedback received.