Blog.

Date: 27/01/26

Contact: Office of Rebecca Smith MP

Phone: 01752 335666

Email: rebecca.smith.mp@parliament.uk

Rebecca Smith MP calls for urgent action after further storm damage at Dawlish

Rebecca Smith MP for South West Devon, has today raised urgent concerns following further storm damage at Dawlish over the weekend, after Storm Ingrid caused the sea wall to collapse in two new locations over the weekend.

With Storm Chandra bringing further severe weather this week, Miss. Smith warned that the vulnerability of the main rail line connecting Devon and Cornwall to the rest of the country has once again been laid bare.  

“This line is not a luxury but a necessity for hundreds of thousands of people, supporting jobs, tourism, education and access to essential services across the South West” said Miss. Smith.

Following the devastating storms of 2014, the South West Rail Resilience Programme was established to protect this vital route. Under the previous Conservative government, £165 million was invested to deliver the first four stages of the programme, including rebuilding the sea wall at Dawlish and strengthening cliff defences, significantly improving the resilience of the line.

However, the final and most complex phase of the scheme has now been paused, leaving critical sections of the route without long-term protection at a time when extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe.

Raising the issue in the House of Commons, Miss. Smith asked the Chancellor and Treasury Ministers whether contingency funding would be guaranteed for urgent and unplanned resilience works, particularly given concerns about the absence of a Treasury emergency reserve. In response, the Minister pointed to departmental contingency planning but did not provide a clear guarantee that emergency funding would be available when required.

Speaking after her question, Miss. Smith said:

“This railway is a lifeline for Devon and Cornwall. The previous government recognised that and invested £165 million to strengthen and protect it. 

Pausing the final phase of resilience works is now having real-world consequences. Each storm brings disruption, uncertainty and economic damage to our communities. 

When extreme weather strikes, assurances about contingency planning are not enough. We need clear commitments to complete the resilience programme in full and guarantee funding for urgent works when they are needed.” 

Miss. Smith is calling on the Government to urgently commit to completing the final phase of the Dawlish rail resilience scheme and provide clarity on emergency funding arrangements to ensure the South West is not repeatedly cut off during severe weather.

ENDS

Note to Editors

1. About Rebecca Smith MP:

Rebecca was elected in July 2024 as the Member of Parliament for South West Devon, one of just 26 newly elected Conservative MPs. Growing up locally, Rebecca is a passionate advocate in Westminster for this idyllic corner of Devon and its proud residents who also call it home. Her membership of Conservative Friends of the Armed Forces, Conservative Environment Network, Conservative Rural Forum and the Conservative Christian Fellowship reflect just some of her long-held interests which she actively campaigns for in Parliament.

She has also served as the Councillor for Plymstock Radford ward on Plymouth City Council since 2018, taking on senior roles which include Chair of the Planning Committee, Cabinet Member for Homes and Communities and Chair of the Commission on Violence against Women and Girls. Rebecca has also worked for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, leading their public engagement across the South West.

Rebecca is a Junior Whip and part of the Shadow Department for Work and Pensions team. As such, she recently served as Junior Minister in the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill Committee. She is also a member of Parliament’s Transport Committee and sat on the Renters’ Rights Bill Committee.

2. Watch Rebecca’s question to the Treasury team here: