Dredging work at West Bay and Lyme Regis is expected to start at the end of March, or early April, in 2023.

In a change to previous years, the work will begin at Lyme Regis before the contractors move on to West Bay.

Dorset Council has decided that the new schedule is likely to be less damaging to the tourist trade – following years of complaints from Lyme Regis that the works have often clashed with the start of the town's tourism season.

Porfolio holder Cllr Ray Bryan told Dorset Council's Joint Harbours Committee that the aim for both towns was to cause as little inconvenience as possible, although the actual start and finish times were likely to be dictated by weather conditions at the time.

"We do our best to avoid Easter but it is dependent on the weather," he said.

Tenders for the dredging work have already been advertised, although the council has yet to get the necessary marine licence, but expects to apply for that early in the New Year.

Councillors were told that initial talks are also being held in Lyme Regis with commercial users of the harbour about the next phase of environmental protection works, based around the historic Cobb, with a consultation expected for the public in March after further details have been drawn up.

Meetings with Historic England, Natural England and the local office of the Marine Management Organisation, were scheduled to take place on Friday.

Construction work is not expected to start on the project until the summer of 2024, initially on the seaward wall with works to follow on the inner wall during the winter months.

Councillors were told that it was good news that the project, formally titled the Lyme Regis Environmental Improvement Scheme Phase 5, had now won approval of the Outline Business Case from the Environment Agency assurance board which should ensure Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs grant funding.

Dorset Council will continue to monitor and carry out repairs to the Cobb until the major work starts.