Annual dredging at West Bay and Lyme Regis underway

Annual dredging at West Bay and Lyme Regis will take place between February 12 and March 28, Dorset Council said.

This work is needed to keep busy navigational channels free from sediment deposits that come from either rivers or the natural action of waves on beaches.

“Our harbours provide safe mooring and launching facilities for small boats and are important refuges along the Dorset coast for any vessels at sea that may be in difficulties,” said the Council.

Beaches will be fenced off for safety due to the machinery being used.

The color of the dredged sand is often darker in color due to the lack of exposure to oxygen on the seabed.

“Once exposed to the air it returns to the normal colour we are used to. But to make sure the beauty of our beaches isn’t affected we place this dredged sand beneath a layer of the sand that is already there, which we have moved aside for this purpose,” said the Council.