Lowestoft sea wall protection work under discussion

Anthony Carrol describes in the Lowestoft Journal of Wednesday 10th October 2012 how Waveney District Council’s development control committee will be discussing a protection scheme to defend a 170-metre stretch of sea wall backing Lowestoft’s South Beach.

Lowestoft Sea Wall

Nick Butcher’s picture of Lowestoft Sea Wall showing the huge loss of beach down to the toe foundations of the existing sea wall.

Waveney District Council’s cabinet have already agreed to put in £400,000 to construct an improved foundation for the flint sea wall between the South Pier and the Claremont Pier if the green light is given. A further £40,000 will also be spent on improving adjacent groynes. The council planning officers recommend approval of the plan on the proviso that no objections arise before the publicity period deadline of 25th October.

The council rightfully says that the work is needed as the area has come under increasing pressure from erosion in recent years which has lowered beach levels and could end up in the loss of the promenade and the surrounding area if the 130-year-old wall fails. A report to the development control committee says: “This part of the seawall currently has no toe protection and there is a risk of failure as a result of undermining.”

Planning officers recommends that the committee authorises officers to approve the application provided that no objections are received before the “publicity period” deadline of October 25th terminates. If approved, work could take place between January and March.

Comment by MARINET

Lowestoft beach, prior to offshore dredging, was very extensive, with the sand depth often to the seawall top. The local economy is highly dependent on it’s beach to assure tourist income, but as can be seen by the picture very little now remains following many years of intensive offshore aggregate removal, this never objected to by the Council.  By the time the proposed work commences, if indeed it does, it could be too late. The main road runs immediately behind the beach and could be lost with the impacting weather and tide levels expected this coming Winter.

Source: Lowestoft Journal 10th October 2012
PG 14/10/’12

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