We have secured Government funding of around £700,000 to replenish the parts of our beaches hit by storms last winter. About 10 years of sand erosion occurred in just two months, enough to put coastal residential properties and infrastructure at risk from further erosion if and when more storms hit our shores.
The funding lets us pump around 40,000 cubic metres of sand onto the beach around Shore Road. The sand is being pumped from the Swash Channel, which Poole Harbour Commission dredges regularly to maintain access for large ships to the Port of Poole. After some hiccups with the dredger, which needed urgent repairs early in the project, the work will progress 24 hours a day over a two week period.
Visitors came to watch the huge steel pipes being unloaded, joined together and finally pulled off the beach to plug one end to the dredger. More visitors come every day to watch the progress of this fascinating project. With each load, the dredger anchors in position off the beach at Shore Road, connects to the pipeline, and pumps the sand ashore. Bulldozers then spread and level the sand on the beach.
Conservative Councillor Xena Dion, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Flood and Coastal Management, Borough of Poole, said: “Our beaches are one of Poole's greatest assets and benefit the economy hugely through tourism and the many visitors they attract, but first and foremost they are a vital coastal protection. The winter storms of last year demonstrated how important flood and coastal defence is for our properties and infrastructure in Poole. Considering the strength of the storms all our defences worked very well but the beaches certainly need to be replenished."
The project demonstrates the importance of partnership working, which the Conservative administration strongly encourages. Council officers worked hard with the Environment Agency and Poole Harbour Commissioners to set up an efficient process that dredges sand locally to match the high quality sand already on our award-winning beaches.