Wildlife campaigners have branded a scheme to strengthen a crumbling cliff face a waste of money.
Work to stabilise The Black Rock cliffs behind Asda at Brighton Marina started on Monday.
A team of abseilers is driving bolts into the cliff to stop it crumbling.
Phil Belden, of the Brighton Urban Wildlife Group, said the work was pointless because it would not result in the Undercliff Walk, part of which was closed because of a cliff fall, being reopened.
He said: "There is no point spending money on something that has no public benefit. The Government will not allow them put a wire mesh over the cliff to stop the rocks falling down so they are not going to reopen the walk."
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott ruled out the mesh idea, saying it would obscure the cliffs.
Environment councillor Gill Mitchell said the bolts would protect the A259 above the cliff from further erosion and had been recommended by geologists. She said once the 16-week project was completed she would commission another study to see if it would be safe to open Undercliff Walk without the mesh.
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