Last three groynes to be replaced west of Boscombe Pier in Bournemouth
The work completes a 10-year programme to renew timber groynes on Bournemouth's beaches
The final three timber groynes west of Boscombe Pier in Bournemouth will be replaced from 12th October, completing a 10-year coastal protection programme.
BCP Council says 50 groynes have already been renewed along the seafront over the past 10 years.
Once the work is finished, all 53 timber groynes in this phase will have been replaced.
The work is being carried out by contractor Suttle Projects and is due to finish in March 2027.
It is part of the wider 17-year Poole Bay Beach Management Scheme, which aims to protect the coastline from Sandbanks to Hengistbury Head from flooding and erosion for the next 100 years.
What groynes do
Groynes act like low timber walls running from the promenade into the sea.
The council says that together with regular beach replenishment, they help hold sand and shingle in place.
It says this protects beaches, cliffs, seawalls and promenades from erosion.
The council says that without coastal defences like these, parts of the coastline could erode by up to a metre each year.
The project in numbers
Each groyne is around 75 metres long, roughly the length of seven double-decker buses laid end to end.
The foundations extend around five metres below the beach.
Each groyne is made up of 225 timber planks.
The council says the typical lifespan of a timber groyne is 25 years.
Reaction
Cllr Andy Hadley, BCP Council's Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy, said:
"Our coastline is one of our area's greatest assets, and this work is about protecting it for the future."
"These groynes may look simple from the beach, but they play a vital role in helping to keep sand and shingle in place, reducing erosion and protecting our cliffs, seawalls and promenade."
"This final phase marks an important milestone in a long-term scheme that is helping make Poole Bay more resilient to the impacts of climate change and rising sea levels."
Safety on the beach
The promenade will stay open while the work is carried out.
For safety reasons, the length of beach where work is taking place will be fenced off.
The council is asking people to follow safety signs and keep out of fenced areas, even at low tide.
It says sand around excavated groynes can become unstable, and the areas will operate as temporary construction sites.
Contractors will be on site during normal working hours.
The teams work around the lowest tides on a rota system, so some work may take place outside daylight hours.
The council says all work will be carried out in line with planning and environmental consents.
Recycling and funding
The council says timber from the old groynes is recycled for use on the foundations of new groynes where possible.
Where the wood is unsuitable for reuse on new groynes, it is recycled for other projects.
These include cladding and decking at Durley Hub at Durley Chine, the Highcliffe Castle zigzag and Poole Bus Station public spaces.
The wider Poole Bay Beach Management Scheme is mainly funded by an Environment Agency grant of £36.5 million.
There is also a £2 million local levy and a £3.3 million contribution from the council.
The wider programme includes two beach renourishments and the replacement of the Hengistbury Head Long Groyne.
The second beach renourishment is due to take place within the next two years.