Bournemouth’s famous golden sands will be replenished over the coming months to replace sand gradually washed away over the years due to coastal erosion.
A total of 320,000 cubic meters of new beach material will be pumped onto the beach using specialist equipment with work starting between Bournemouth and Boscombe Piers and then continuing East of Boscombe Pier.
Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Member for Planning and Environment , said: “ These works are essential and are not only to protect the coastline from future coastal erosion but also to maintain our award winning beaches which attract millions of visitors and residents to the coast each year. The works also complement the Council’s Seafront Strategy – a long-term plan to develop a world class seafront. ”
It is estimated that the beach replenishment will be complete in time for the start of the new summer season.
Disruption to users of the promenade will be kept to a minimum but small sections of the promenade will be closed off for short periods of time while equipment is transported on and off the beach in order to carry out the works. Parts of the beach will be cordoned off while work takes place for public safety reasons.
The beach replenishment is part of a wider 17-year phased program of work to protect Bournemouth’s coastline which also includes groyne replacements.
The cost of this replenishment scheme is estimated at £3.6 million. The total cost of the entire project over 17 years is approximately £50 million with the majority of the funding coming from the Environment Agency as a grant to the Council and a contribution of Local Levy allocated by the Wessex Regional Flood and Coastal Committee.
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