Green light for £8m West Bay coastal defence improvements

A new £8million project aimed at improving flood prevention measures at West Beach, East Beach, and Park Dean embankment at West Bay, is set to go ahead as councillors at West Dorset District Council (WDDC)'s strategy committee voted unanimously in favour of contributing £3m towards the scheme.

Modernised flood protection will be built in all three areas in the hopes of enhancing the beaches and helping local businesses and tourism

Robert Clarke, project engineer, said: “West Beach is the most important in terms of funding contributions.

“It was replenished in 2015 at a cost of £430,000. Without improvements, replenishment will be required every five years.”

The beach suffered severe damage during the storms of 2014, highlighting the need for new measures.

In a report put before councillors at a meeting of the committee, it was noted that the beach has gradually depleted resulting in ‘significant’ overtopping, where waves engulf the sea barrier, resulting in significant damage.

Cllr Stella Jones said: “The scheme is hoping to last up to 100 years, taking into account climate change and the frequency of storms.

“Work was done, and a few years later we are having to spend money again. We need to take what happened in the past and learn from that. We should be thinking about putting extra money in.”

A new stub-groyne will be created at West Beach as well as a repair of its existing groyne. The plan also outlines the need for a new set-back flood wall and recharge of the beach.

East Beach will see the building of a new set-back flood wall as well as a buried rock structure. A concrete retaining wall will be created at Park Dean to address the uneven crest level of the beach.

The scheme is funded by contributions from the Flood Defence Grant-in-Aid (FDGiA), the Local Levy and private funding. There have also been recent talks of a possible contribution from the Environment Agency.

Work is set to begin in August next year.