January 2002
This is the first in a series of Newsletters to be published by the Environment Agency, regarding the proposed improvements to the sea defences between the new sea wall at St Mary's Bay and the end of the existing sea wall in Littlestone-on- Sea.
You may be aware that a Coastal Defence Strategy study has been undertaken for the coast between Folkestone and Rye.
This study identified a strategy for the long term (50 years) for this frontage, including a series of actions to improve the defences where necessary. These were shown at the "Road show" held in Littlestone during the consultation for the strategy. This strategy was completed earlier this year and has now been adopted by the Agency. The coast between Littlestone and St Mary's Bay was identified as a stretch needing improvement. The Agency has appointed consultants Babtie Brown and Root to develop a scheme in line with the recommendations of the strategy.
The frontage consists of a concrete sea wall with a shingle beach and a sandy lower foreshore. The beach is currently maintained by an ageing series of timber groynes. The landward ends of some of the groynes are partially buried, and the lower ends are exposed and in a semi-derelict state. Behind the defences lie the coastal road and the residential and commercial properties of Littlestone-on-Sea, and to the north of this Littlestone Golf Course and the Rugby Club. The coast here is very important environmentally with both national and international designations for nature conservation.
The existing defences expose the land immediately behind to frequent overtopping and shingle bombardment. The existing shingle beach is very narrow in places leading to a draw down of the beach material during storm events. This increases the amount of overtopping and also exposes the sea wall to potential further damage.
The land is particularly low-Lying along this coastline and a breach of the defences here could lead to flooding over a widespread area. The proposed improvements would aim to reduce overtopping and ensure the long-term integrity of the sea wall. A wide variety of options were considered during the strategy and a preferred option was chosen based upon technical, environmental and economic considerations. This preferred option consists of a major beach re-nourishment, providing more shingle to absorb the incoming wave energy during storms.
The beach will consist of a flat crest width extending 10m (33') from the existing sea wall at a level of 6m above Ordnance Datum (0.5-1 m (18"-39") below the existing wall). The beach will then be graded at a 1 in 7 slope until it intercepts the existing beach. A rock groyne will be constructed close to the junction with the St Mary's Bay sea wall, by the Jesson outfall.
This groyne will catch shingle moving along the frontage, which will be recycled back along the frontage annually. The beach has been designed to work with the natural processes and the frontage will not require any further groynes.
The height of the sea wall will also be raised over the whole frontage to provide a consistent level with the existing St Mary's Bay sea wall. The Environment Agency has submitted a Planning Application to undertake these works to Shepway District Council. The application is supported by a formal Environmental Statement, which considers the impacts of the proposals on the environment.
Details of the application and the Environmental Statement are available for inspection at the Shepway District Council Offices, Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone. To obtain further information about this scheme please contact Robin Hayler, the Environment Agency's project manager for the scheme, on 01903 832173.
Alternatively you can contact the Environment Agency's consulting engineers, Babtie, Brown and Root on 020 86868212 please ask for Chris Powell, the project engineer.
Further information regarding both the strategy and the scheme can also be found on the following website. www.folkestone-rye.net