East Suffolk Council
Ground investigation works to begin at Southwold
Investigation works in preparation for repairs to the sea wall at Southwold are due to begin shortly, along with routine planned maintenance work further along the promenade.
East Suffolk Council’s repairs and maintenance contractor, the Water Management Alliance, have carried out ground investigation works along the length of the promenade north of Southwold Pier, following a partial collapse of the promenade in December.
Following these inspections, which were carried out during week commencing 6 January, the promenade remains closed however the closed area has been reduced in size. This closure will now be in place until sea wall repair works are completed.
In preparation for these repairs, the Council’s contractor Balfour Beatty will be completing a survey to ensure there is no unexploded ordnance or obstructions on the beach. This work will begin from Monday 20 January and last for two weeks. A timescale for when the repairs to the sea wall will take place will be confirmed later this month.
Separately, routine repair and maintenance work between Gun Hill and Southwold Pier will also begin on Monday 20 January and is expected to last for two weeks. The Water Management Alliance will be replacing fixings used to secure groyne timbers, repairing joints in the promenade, and reducing trip hazards where necessary. These are scheduled works and are unrelated to the repairs to the promenade north of the pier.
Cllr Mark Packard, East Suffolk’s cabinet member for Planning and Coastal Management said: “These investigations will enable our coastal management team to progress the repairs to the sea wall and promenade north of the pier. Repairs to the ‘toe’ of the sea wall were scheduled for later this year however following the promenade collapse last month, these works now need to be brought forward as quickly as possible. We are continuing to work with our contractors and consenting organisations to expedite this process.
“For safety, the cordon to the north of the pier will remain in place until the repairs to the sea wall are complete and we would remind people to take extra care in this area and take notice of signage and fencing.”
Two temporary site compounds will be installed, one in Southwold Pier car park for the investigation works, and another on the promenade south of the pier for the repair and maintenance works. Machinery may also be moving between the beach and the survey location to the north of the pier and people are asked to take note of any signage whilst work is in progress.