East Devon District Council has closed the Imperial Recreation Ground play area to allow for essential work on Exmouth's Tidal Defence Scheme.

The works, being completed by Team Van Oord on behalf of the Environment Agency, include piling and asbestos removal.

The play area is expected to remain closed until the end of September.

The tidal defence project, which is being jointly undertaken by the Environment Agency and East Devon District Council, includes new flood walls, ground raising, flood gates and property flood resilience measures along the sea front and estuary-side. The scheme is due to be completed by 2021.

Planning permission for the Exmouth tidal defence scheme was granted by East Devon District Council in January 2019. This was a hybrid application that included outline planning submissions for Morton Crescent and Alexandra Terrace Junction.

On June 11, 2019, full planning permission was granted for Morton Crescent, allowing access to this site for the construction of a new flood wall (on the line of the existing wall) as well as pedestrian flood gates and landscaping.