Portman Ravine Groyne 28
to Fisherman’s Walk Groyne 32
Work began
on 12th September 2010
on the beach top-up of a
section of beach at Southbourne by the Fareham-based
Westminster
Dredging Company.
The pumping
of approximately 70,000m3 of beach material was completed on 20th
September and the beach fully reopened to the public 10 days later.
BIS4.5 was the
third and final top-up since the major beach replenishment projects
2005-07 [more].
Key dates & information
|
Sun, 12th Sept |
Pipeline arrived on site by
sea. |
|
|
Wed, 15th Sept |
First
load pumped ashore using material dredged from Poole Harbour |
|
|
Mon, 20th Sept |
Pumping completed; approx 70,000 cu.m. of beach material delivered to shore in 6 days |
|
|
Thurs, 23rd Sept |
The pipeline has been removed
by sea |
|
|
Thurs, 30th Sept |
All machinery & plant removed;
the beach is now fully open to the public |
|
Frequently
Asked Questions
Will I be able to use the beach while work is in
progress?
Yes, but in
the interests of health and safety, it will be necessary to keep off a
short length of beach while sand is being pumped by the dredger, and moved
by bulldozers. The closed section will be between Groynes 27 and 33, at
Portman Ravine and Fisherman's Walk (see the photograph above).
There is a
slight risk of quicksand developing during the replenishment work, so it
is best not to go onto the new beach for a few days, until the water
drains away completely. The promenade will remain open at all times even
when pumping is under way.
The beach material
The material
is dredged from Poole Harbour, which benefits the beach and helps maintain water depths for safe
navigation of the harbour. It will
be a combination of approximately 90% sand and 10% shingle. The coarser material is needed to
ensure the beach is not washed away during storms. From time to
time, it will rise naturally to
the surface, particularly at more exposed areas in the east of the bay.
How will the sand get on to the beach?
The sandy
material will be dredged from Poole Harbour channels and approaches and
brought by dredger close to the beach. Because of the shallow water, the
dredger will pump the sand ashore through a long pipe. The sand is mixed
with a considerable amount of water to enable it to be pumped. As the
mixture leaves the pipe, the water flows back to sea, leaving the sand
behind. The beach is then levelled by bulldozers.
What will the beach look like?
Initially the sand will look darker than that on the current beach, but
will lighten to a normal colour with exposure to oxygen and daylight. In
the first few weeks, small cliffs may appear in the beach as wave action
sorts the new sand into a natural beach profile.
The
replenishment will result in a wider beach than we currently have.
Who is paying?
The work is funded with 100% Grant Aid from the
Environment Agency on behalf of Defra (the Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs).
|
 |
For more detailed
information & pictures about the replenishment process see
BIS4.1
(opens in a new window). |
