2005 Beach - News - 7th September

Those living on the beach will have noticed a relative calm has now settled over the foreshore. Sospan Dau has now returned to Bulverhythe to continue work on the improved defences there.

A bulldozer is now working at Sovereign Harbour and over the next few weeks will visit the entire frontage to prepare the beach for winter. In many areas no action will be taken. A natural profile consisting of sea-sorted shingle provides the best defence and it makes little difference whether ridges of material on the front of the crest are pushed up or left in place – both will work just as well.

Consequently we will only reprofile the beach where it is actually necessary – for example where the beach crest needs to be widened.

The next few weeks should see different phases of work;

• As previously stated a major recycle – approx 3 weeks duration – will be carried out. This will primarily focus on areas not covered by the recharge; Cooden, Herbrand Walk and Normans Bay East. It is likely that small amounts of work (1-2 days) will be undertaken at Beachlands and Sovereign Harbour to counter any losses that occur within the recharged material. It is expected that this work will start in late September, but is likely to be as and when the settled weather we are currently enjoying starts to change. This will occur between 07:30 and 17:00 Monday to Friday.
  
• Groyne maintenance. A team will inspect all groynes between Sovereign Harbour and Cooden and remove any loose or unsafe elements of each structure. This obviously needs to be a tidal operation so that we get access to the lower end of each groyne at low water. We currently expect this work to start on 19th September
  
• Additional signage. Facia for existing warning signs near Sovereign Harbour rock revetment will be changed in the near future. Additional signs will also be installed close to the cycleway to highlight not only the presence of rocks but also cliffing that will inevitably occur in the newly placed shingle

I will update you on when recycling will start, and the order in which areas will be visited as and when I have more details.

Best wishes

Ian

Ian Thomas
Project Manager
Pevensey Coastal Defence Ltd
Environment Agency Depot
Coast Road
Pevensey Bay
East Sussex BN24 6ND

Tel: 01323 761202
Fax: 01323 764368
Mob: 07884 234298
email: pcdl@pevensey-bay.co.uk

Updated: Thursday, September 29, 2005 11:28