THE scheme to save Walton’s cliffs and historic Naze tower has been given the go-ahead by councillors.

A planning application for the £1.2million Crag Walk scheme has been unanimously approved by Tendring Council, with one councillor, Sarah Candy, describing the decision as “a no-brainer”.

The project will see a 15ft high, 360ft long reinforced pathway built along the cliffs, which will double as sea defences to stop the Naze cliffs crumbling into the sea.

A viewing platform will also be built atop the 70ft high cliffs, which are of special scientific interest because they contain 55 million-year-old fossils.

The Naze tower will also be protected. Coastal erosion means the tower is now less than 200ft from the cliff edge, and if something wasn’t done, it would have fallen into the sea in the next 25 years.

Tower owner Michelle Nye-Brown, said: “It’s fantastic news. We’re really pleased the council is behind the plans.

“The sooner it can be built the better. You’re always a bit worried something might go wrong, so I’m over the moon.

“We get asked about it all the time and I think the public will be really pleased that it’s going ahead.”

Matthew Lang, a council planning officer, said: “The Crag Walk should add a minimum of 50 years to the life of the tower, and that could be further extended in the future.”

The scheme is expected to take about four months to complete and should be finished by next May.

More than 14,500 tonnes of rock will be used to build the walkway.

The Naze Protection Society raised £234,000 towards the scheme. Frinton and Walton Town Council and Haven Gateway Partnership are chipping in £10,000, while Tendring Council has pledged £520,000 and Essex County Council £500,000.