Southwold: Beach seawall to be repaired over two-week period

Works are set to start in Southwold next week, with repairs and maintenance "along the coastal defences."

Coastal Partnership East – which brings together the coastal management resources and expertise from North Norfolk District Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council and East Suffolk Council – has appointed the Water Management Alliance (WMA) to carry out "repairs and maintenance work" at Southwold.

According to Coastal Partnership East, work is due to start next Monday (January 16) and will last two weeks.

A spokesman for Coastal Partnership East said: "The work is spread across the defences from the north end of the pier car park to Gun Hill Southwold.

"There will be a temporary site set-up established in the pier car park."

With the work carried out along the coastal defences "around daily tides", a spokesman said: "The WMA will be replacing joint sealant on the concrete seawall, north of the pier, and extending the existing handrail from the end of the access ramp, south of the pier, to join the promenade handrail at the next groyne south.

"We will work hard to keep any inconvenience to a minimum and ask the public to please take note of the contractor’s signage when work is happening.

"This work will improve flood defence assets and is an important part of the council's commitment to ensure that the coastal assets they are responsible for are working effectively and are safe for the public, helping to protect our beautiful and important coastline economically and environmentally and for the enjoyment of communities and visitors for generations to come.

"Undertaking regular targeted maintenance means that we can maximise the lifespan of coastal protection assets, ensuring that we make the most of every pound spent and achieve a better return on public investment.

"We are supporting the safeguarding of life and local economies by making sure that the council’s coastal assets are in the condition needed for continued protection."