ELEVENTH hour attempts to alter the design of the new sea wall are set to be discussed at an emergency meeting next week.

Mayor Alison Foden called the ‘extraordinary’ gathering of the full town council to consider the legal possibilities of a High Court Judicial Review.

It would relate to the Teignbridge Council planning committee’s decision to give the opinion-splitting Marine Parade works the green light.

The said appeal would be made on the basis that the committee made an ‘unsound decision regards local amenity’.

Town mayor and district councillor Alison Foden declared: ‘It’s vitally important to discuss the decision taken by Teignbridge.

‘I am aware of a general unhappiness in the town about the sea wall as it will radically affect the character of the sea front.

‘We need to consider the safety aspects of the wall’s parapet: its height will reduce visibility – if anyone below was in difficulty they wouldn’t be seen.’

Cllr Foden added: ‘We feel that there are still issues which need to be discussed, and whether we can modify the plans in any way.’

And fellow Lib Dem town and district member Gary Taylor, the Teignbridge portfolio holder for planning, said: ‘This will be difficult. We’re in for a fight.

‘But there are a number of flaws in the scheme and we believe the design should be modified.’

He continued: ‘There are issues of safety to be considered.

‘Recommendations in a report by RoSPA were not followed, and at the time the town council did not know about this advice.

‘The design should be altered to be less injurious to the local amenity. It can be modified to replace the parapet and reduce its height.’

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling paid the troubled stretch of track a visit back in February, on the same day the project’s £80 million budget was announced.

The proposed designs would see the wall rise by an extra two-and-a-half metres in height, and construction was supposed to start imminently.

Fears Government will pull its £80 million funding if the wall’s design is changed have since been expressed.

The meeting is set to get going at 7pm next Tuesday in the council’s headquarters at the Manor House, Dawlish.

It is open to the public and residents will have a chance to put their views across at the beginning.