Meeting on Lowestoft Beach Scheme Set for Tomorrow

Local residents will have the opportunity to view plans for the second phase of coastal protection works to the south beach in Lowestoft at a community drop-in session, announced the Waveney District Council.

The drop-in session takes place on Friday 13 March at The Kirkley Centre, 154 London Road South, Lowestoft and will run from 2pm-4.30pm and then again from 5.30pm to 8pm. The meeting is open to anyone living or working locally, or with an interest in the project.

Details of the planned coast protection and promenade works will be available to view at the event and officers from Waveney’s Coastal Management team will be present to answer queries.

About the project

The beach at the northern end of Lowestoft South Beach, from the area known as “Children’s Corner” to Parade Road South, has been eroding slowly since around the year 2000.

Two improvement schemes have been carried out (2008 and 2013) to protect the seawall foundations, however from late 2012 the erosion rate has increased and beach levels have fallen dramatically in places.

In October 2013 and again in December 2013, unusually severe weather events caused more damage to the seawall and access ramps. This led to plans being developed to protect the South Beach promenade and seawall from further storm damage.

During November and December 2014, the first of a two-phase repair scheme was carried out. This saw approximately 6000 tonnes of rock armour placed against the most vulnerable section of flint seawall (approximately 200m). The rock breaks up the wave energy and reduces it’s impact on the seawall while also protecting the foundations and increasing stability.

In January 2015, Waveney District Council were able to secure an additional £2 million to proceed with Phase 2 of the Lowestoft South Beach urgent repair works. This second phase will include the installation of guard railing along the promenade, rock structures on the beach between the phase 1 works and the South Pier and the construction of an access ramp to replace the now collapsed “T-shaped” ramp at Children’s Corner.

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