 In 1990 , much of Minehead 's beach was washed away in a severe storm which also caused serious flooding in the town . A £ 12 @.@ 6 million sea defence scheme by the Environment Agency was designed to reduce the risk of this erosion and flooding happening in the future . The Environment Agency built 1 @.@ 1 miles ( 1 @.@ 8 km ) of new sea wall and rock or concrete stepped revetments between 1997 and 1998 and imported 320 @,@ 000 tons of additional sand in 1999 to build a new beach . This beach sits between four rock groynes and has been built at a much higher level than the previous beach so that the waves are broken before they reach the new sea wall . Any waves that do reach the new wall are turned back by its curved shape . The town 's new sea defences were officially opened in 2001 . 
