Spotted a large dredger off the coast of Hove recently? It's part of the Brighton Marina to River Adur Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Scheme.
The sight of excavators and bulldozers on Hove beach marks one of the key delivery stages of the Brighton Marina to River Adur Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Scheme. The scheme, which has been years in preparation, is designed to reduce the risk from storm damage and flooding to coastal structures, businesses and homes along the coast from Shoreham Port to East Brighton, now and into the future.
An excavator and bulldozers moving pumped shingle into place on Hove Beach. Image credit: The Living Coast
Over the past few months the project team – a partnership between Brighton & Hove City Council, Adur District Council, Shoreham Port, the Environment Agency and the Western Esplanade Management Company – have been working with specialist contractors to install replacement timber groynes along this section of beach which extend further out to sea. Now the groynes are in place replacement shingle is being pumped onto the beach which will increase the width of the beach, similar to that already in existence to the East of Brighton Palace Pier. The shingle, which has been obtained from a licensed shingle dredging site in the English Channel, is being pumped from a large dredging boat that can be clearly seen from the shore.
Dredge boat pumping shingle to the shore off Hove beach. Image credit – The Living Coast
The extended beach is intended protect the coast from the increasing storm impacts we are anticipating with our changing climate as well as mimicking the natural movement of shingle and sediment along the coast that occurs due to long shore drift. This natural process is often interrupted due to natural and man made structures such as harbour walls and headlands, which results in areas of beach on the leeward sides that eventually become eroded away. The replenished and extended beaches along the Shoreham Port, Southwick and Hove seafront will protect our coastline from storm damage and flooding, by helping to absorb more wave and storm energy, and stopping shingle and sea water over topping the seafront and impacting local homes and businesses.
To learn more about the project have a look at this video from Brighton & Hove City Council or visit their web pages: Protecting our coast from flooding and coastal erosion
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