Coastal towns set for weeks of sea wall repairs

Residents of two coastal towns have been warned to expect disruption as work begins to repair their sea walls.

East Suffolk Council is working to repair a collapsed section on Southwold's promenade and also announced this week it would be repairing an area in Aldeburgh.

Maintenance contractor, Water Management Alliance, is working on both promenades.

The council has urged people to take extra care in both areas and take notice of any signage and fencing.

In December, two rectangular-shaped sections of the seafront walkway in Southwold fell inward due to erosion and stormy weather.

Contractors began work at the end of February to fill in voids under the promenade and replace the collapsed slabs.

The reconstruction is expected to last two more weeks before further works take place to repair the lower section of the sea wall under the beach, which had suffered erosion damage.

The council said recent erosion had exposed this area sooner than expected which ultimately led to the collapse.

Work will begin from 22 April and will be completed by the start of the school summer holidays.

A cordon to the north of the pier will remain in place until all the works are finished and there is no access to the promenade or beach in the area.

Philip Ridley, head of nationally significant infrastructure at the council, said the work would return the sea wall "to its former good condition".

Aldeburgh's sea wall and beach steps will undergo work from 17 to 28 March.

Contractors will begin sea wall repairs at Fort Green car park and move up to the South Lookout tower.

The timber beach access steps near the junction of Crag Path and Hertford Place will then be replaced.

Existing beach steps will remain open until the new ones are in place, but there will be limited access to the Crag Path south of the beach steps during this time.

Mark Packard, cabinet member for planning and coastal management, said the repairs were "vital in protecting our coastline".

"The work will cause some inconvenience but is crucial maintenance," he added.

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