NEW national seashore defence policies could mean major changes for two Torbay beaches.

Before Torbay Council adopts the latest version of the shoreline management plan to meet climate change predictions, it is to consult about the future of Goodrington Sands North and Broadsands.

The latest version of the government's plan proposes not fighting the sea but allowing a 'managed retreat' inland to create new beaches.

In some places the waves will be allowed to erode as they will.

Council chief executive Elizabeth Raikes told a meeting of the Cabinet: "We have to make it clear there are limits on changes we can make. It's about explaining to the community what reasonably can be done."

The meeting heard that unless the council accepted the policy it would find it harder to get Government cash for sea defence projects.

Goodrington councillor Christine Carter said she was alarmed by the 'managed retreat' proposal.

"You cannot be serious," she said.

"I cannot believe that you would allow Goodrington North to flood."

She said there had been no consultation in the ward or with businesses around the beach.

"They're in the dark about this," she said. "Businesses have invested a lot of money in this area.

"Were they warned that in 50 years time there would be a managed retreat? "Would they have put money in there if they knew that?

"I think not."

Regeneration councillor Chris Lewis insisted: "This is scare-mongering. Managed retreat means it will be managed. We are not going to flood these beaches.

"Nowhere in these documents does it say we will flood those areas."

Drainage engineer Dave Stewart said the assessment had been produced by experts.

"Providing it's feasible and technically possible to do it, the idea is to move the seawall back in 20 to 50 years to create a beach," he said.

"If it's not possible, the policy is to revert to holding the present line of defence."

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: "It's important to remember these changes will not take place immediately — that is, not for at least 20 years and possibly not for 50 years."

No final decision would be taken without significant public consultation, he said.

Changes to the climate are expected to result in more and stronger storms and bigger and more destructive waves hitting the shoreline.

The rate of erosion is such that if predictions for change come true, within the next 50 to 100 years the low tide level will be above the present beach level.

Water will always lap at the sea defences and there will be no large beaches anywhere in the Bay.

This erosion of levels will happen at all of the Bay beaches but, apart from Goodrington North and Broadsands, other sea defences are protecting roads, sewers, property or other valuable assets.

While the hard defences at Paignton, Preston, and Torquay will have to be strengthened to stop the waves, at Goodrington and Broadsands it may be more cost-effective to let the sea have its way in a controlled manner and create two beaches.

At today's prices it could cost £20million to £30million to build a new seawall inside the existing one and breach the old defences.