Whilst last weekend’s storms did not threaten the defences, they did cause significant amounts of shingle to move both down and along the beach. As we (hopefully) near the end of winter we still need to reinforce those areas where most shingle has been lost.
Consequently we will be starting a small re-cycle exercise on Tuesday 30th March, beginning at Beachlands. This should only take about 3 days before machines will move to Cooden and then Normans Bay. There will be no work over Easter weekend, and it may be that the Normans Bay work does not start until Tuesday 13th April. I will keep you informed as work progresses.
No date for the annual recharge using dredger Sospan Dau has yet been set. I hope to avoid school holidays, preferring early July or early September, but ultimately it will depend on the vessel’s availability. The likely targeted areas will be Beachlands and Sovereign Harbour Scour Hole.
Typical summer weather generally returns shingle from the lower foreshore to the front of the beach crest. Continued beach surveys will identify where further shingle is needed to maintain the required standard of defence, and hence a further recycling operation will be done in September for those areas that need it.
As you can see nothing new is proposed for this year, and indeed this programme should be typical for most of the remaining 21 years of the contract. But because there are always new people moving into the village we will be holding our annual Public Forum in St Wilfrid’s Hall on Tuesday 20th April between 15:00 and 18:30. Various representatives from the company will be present to answer queries relating to dredging operations, design issues, day-to-day maintenance or any other matters raised. Further information on the potential use of scrap car tyres will also be displayed.
Since our displays do not change much year on year, we have tried to broaden the event’s appeal by arranging for other organisations to attend and provide information on other beach and environmental issues that are of interest to residents:
· Environment Agency staff will give details of their Automatic Voice Messaging (AVM) system. This is a free service that gives those who have registered advance warning of potential flooding via phone messages.
· The Environment Agency will also have details of products available on the market that enable home owners to provide better protection to their properties.
· Dr. Kate Cole, the East Sussex Coastal Biodiversity Officer, will be available to discuss anything to do with local flora and fauna. From what to look out for and what is considered rare, to how we can help maintain and improve the diversity of plants and animals that live in and on the shingle habitat.
· Alan Everard will provide information on the RSPB and also display greeting cards featuring photos of the local landscape.
· Wealden District Council will use the event for their Beach Forum, liaising with organised beach users such as angling & sailing clubs. They will be updating residents on general beach recreational management activities.
· Pevensey Community Action Group, a relatively new organisation that exists to promote village regeneration, encourages tourism and the increase of business for local traders.
· With the help of Pevensey Historical Society we hope to display historic photographs of the coastal strip recording how it has changed over the years.
As always feel free to pass this message on to other residents and if you know of anyone who wishes to be added to our circulation list please ask them to contact me. Equally I am happy to provide any further detail you may require on any aspect of our work.
Here’s wishing us a long and pleasant summer.
Best wishes
Ian
Ian Thomas