I thought I would update you on works planned for the remainder of the summer. As most of you are aware much of the shingle needed to maintain the defences through next winter was brought to the beach in April.
Primarily this was because the Sospan Dau has been busy at Littlestone and in Holland, but, once she is again available it is proposed that a further week’s recharge will be done in mid September. We do not know precisely where and when the work will be done, but it is highly likely to be the easternmost groyne bays at Beachlands. It is possible that a few loads will be added to the “scour hole” just east of the Sovereign Harbour rock revetment.
Either coincident with, or just after the recharge works, there will be a major recycle exercise. Most of the shingle added during the capital works last summer remains on the beach – just not where it was originally placed. Consequently, to meet the requirements of our contract with the Agency, some of it will need to be moved along the beach by dump truck.
Again precise requirements will depend on the weather between now and late September but likely movements will be:
Cooden to Herbrand Walk level crossing
Herbrand Walk fishing station to Normans Bay East
East Stream outfall-Wallers Haven outfall to Normans Bay East & Beachlands
Sovereign Harbour Martello Tower to Sovereign Harbour “Scour Hole”
It is also likely that other recycles will be done during the winter as the need arises.
In many cases, and quite understandably, residents feel uneasy when “their” shingle is dug up and taken away. This is only done when excess shingle (above the amount required to maintain the standard of defence) exists. In most cases we try not to move shingle from in front of properties, but this is not always possible. For instance there is a massive build-up of shingle in the area of 200-250 Coast Road. So much so that many of the groynes have become completely buried. Because material appears to be accreting here, it is not moving eastward so that 350-450 Coast Road remains depleted. In spite of adding dredged aggregates it may be necessary to move some of the excess at 200-250 eastwards to the depleted area. This may appear contrary to normal procedures, but our overriding duty is to provide the required protection standard and this is best done using the material already available on the beach.
This brief update is obviously far from the whole story. If further details are required please contact me and I will do my best to explain further. Another circular will be sent once we start to finalise our plans and when Westminster Dredging inform us when Sospan Dau is likely to be free.
If you know of other residents who like to be included in these emailed updates please ask them to email me at pcdl@pevensey-bay.co.uk and it will be done. Conversely if you would prefer not to receive these messages you can be removed from the list.
I shall be away from 26 July until 3 August, and again from 9 to 17 August, but emails and phone calls to PCDL will still dealt with, but possibly not quite so quickly as usual!
Please contact me with any queries.
Enjoy the rest of the summer peaceful in the knowledge that there will be no dredger or bulldozer to disturb your peace – until September at least
Ian
Ian Thomas