A PROJECT to save a section of Walton’s crumbling cliffs and the historic Naze Tower has been backed by the leader of Essex County Council.

Lord Hanningfield visited the tower to view plans for the Crag Walk project, a £1million scheme to protect a 100-metre section of the cliff in front of the 18th century navigational tower.

He met with the Essex Wildlife Trust, the Naze Protection Society and the tower owners to discuss coastal erosion.

So far, the society has raised £213,000 for the work, which will include an educational public viewing platform, but it still needs to raise almost £800,000.

Lord Hanningfield, who told campaigners he has been visiting the town for holidays since he was a child, said he would take the plan back to his colleagues at County Hall.

“I have known Walton my whole life,” he said.

“The county council will do what it can to protect the Naze.

“The group wants financial support as well, and we will look at what we can do to support it.”

In December, the council’s own central services policy and scrutiny committee called on the council to support the Crag Walk. It warned time was running out to preserve the Naze site with the Grade II listed tower, now an art gallery.

Michelle Nye-Browne, director at the tower, is calling on the council to put cash forward for the project.

“I’m really pleased Lord Hanningfield came down here and is interested in the project,” she said.

“We still need to raise a lot of money and hopefully the county council will contribute.”

DURING his visit to the resort, Lord Hanningfield also launched a new safety boat at Walton and Frinton Yacht Club. The boat, called Ribcraft, was launched at Mill Lane club following a £12,300 grant from Essex County Council’s community initiatives fund. As well as being equipped to recover casualties, the new multi-purpose craft will support more than 300 youngsters in sailing programmes. Lord Hanningfield also opened an information point at the Naze Park stores in Hall Lane, funded by a £5,000 grant from the council. The touch screen, internet-connected kiosk will enable residents to access information about council and other services.