Recharged and rejuvenated beaches at Holland on Sea will reopen to the public tomorrow following the completion of phase one of a £36 million coastal protection scheme.
The beaches have been closed off for safety reasons while the work has been undertaken by contractors. Tendring District Council (TDC) has now taken possession of the sands back – and is looking to give access to most of the area.
Further minor projects will be going ahead over the next two months at various locations but general access will be available.
Nick Turner, TDC’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Protection , said: “ We have had fantastic feedback from people who are amazed at the state of the beaches – especially in comparison to what was there before.”
“I am glad that we can reopen the stretch that is now complete so residents and visitors can get down there and take a closer look for themselves. I can assure them they will not be disappointed .”
County Councillor Roger Hirst, Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Libraries, Planning and the Environment added: “ The re-opening of the beaches means that they are now safer for the public to enjoy and we are pleased to showcase what has been achieved with on-going work at this stage.”
TDC has a team undertaking minor safety works around the landward end of the rock groynes and it is also using a JCB to level out beach material at the Gap launching ramp and some of the beach access steps.
Daily beach inspections also will be carried out by the main contractor to pick up any steel reinforcement which washes out from the old groynes as the beach settles down along with any small rocks. Repairs will also be carried out to the launching ramp at Holland Gap which has suffered as a result of the very heavy use by the construction plant.
The main contractor for the scheme is VBA Joint Venture Limited, with the program being project managed by Mott MacDonald.
The new coastal defenses will protect more than 3,000 residential and commercial properties for the next 100 years and will act as a catalyst for the renaissance of the seafront.
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Press Release