Government is planning to conduct a full scale study on the extent of the coastal erosion problem in Bermuda and the best methods for combating the problem.

"There's been increasing concern about erosion along the Bermuda coast line for a number of years," Assistant Director of Forward Planning Peter Adwick told The Royal Gazette.

Mr. Adwick is overseeing the Planning Department's search for a consultant or team of consultants to undertake the study.

A number of storms in recent years have taken their toll along Bermuda's coast line leaving behind evidence of erosion, he told The Royal Gazette.

During one storm, portions of houses near Tucker's Town were literally washed away.

Mr. Adwick said the department has been receiving a number of applications for coastal defence works at private properties recently as homeowners strive to protect their investments.

"People are trying to support the coast by building walls and such things," said Mr. Adwick.

"What we're trying to do is develop good practice guidelines to prevent and ameliorate erosion while keeping the appearance of the coast as a natural as possible."

While the South Shore tends to be more affected than the North Shore, Mr. Adwick said that one of the objectives of the study will be to find those areas most at risk.

"There are a number of places along the South Shore where a significant amount of erosion and collapse of the rocky shoreline has taken place," said Mr. Adwick.

"The North Shore is more protected but there is a lot of development there right up to the coastline and some of it is truly precarious.

"Particularly along the Pembroke-Devonshire coast, there are spots which are very susceptible and that would be part of the study."

The Government issued a "request for quotation" on Friday and interested professionals are asked to submit their quotes by the end of October.

The applicants will be asked to submit a plan for the study and the successful candidate will be required to submit a final report on Bermuda's coastal erosion by March 2002, Mr. Adwick said.