In October 2010 work got underway on a community partnership
scheme involving Suffolk Coastal to provide protection to part of
our threatened coastline at Thorpeness.
The phase 1 emergency protection works were completed in
February 2011. An extended phase 2 of the works started on site in
September 2011 and was completed on 3 February 2012.
Phase 2 works
Phase 2 involved strengthening the existing failed gabion
(rock-filled wire baskets) structure using a combination of sand
filled geo-textile bags and localised rock infill.
J Breheny Contractors Ltd laid a grand total of 1,856 bags,
eight to ten layers deep, on over one and a half square miles of
geo-fabric. This has created a 600 foot toe-shaped structure that
will provide vital support to the existing structure. Work was due
to be finished by mid-January but has been completed two weeks
earlier than expected.
As the bag laying was completed early and some
money was saved, some additional work was done to repair
and reinforce the existing gabions meaning that work extended
into early February. More information about that work can be found
in the December newsletter below.
Owen Evans is the site supervisor for J Breheny Contractors
Limited. If you see anything unsafe or damaged, he can be contacted
on 07771 635177.
The project has seen a range of partners involved, with the
Environment Agency and Natural England being very supportive in the
planning and design stages, along with local landowners Suffolk
County Council and the Ogilvie Estate.
There has been very close liaison throughout the two phases with
community representatives which has proved invaluable and has built
strong links which will help monitor and manage the works in
future.
Most of the funding was from the Government via the Environment
Agency, with the remainder coming from Suffolk Coastal and most
importantly local residents, as without their £137,000 commitment
the scheme would not have got financial backing from the
Government.
Drawings of the scheme can be viewed below:
An intial assessment of the cost and benefits of this further
work can be found below:
Thorpeness coastal analysis report July 2011
The report below was carried out following the completion of the
Phase 1 works, to look at how coastal processes affect the beach at
Thorpeness, and whether the beach recycling works carried out
during Phase 1 had any detrimental impact on the Ness.
Phase 1 emergency protection works
Heavy storms and unusual weather patterns through May and June
2010 gave the foreshore such a pounding that tonnes of material was
swept out to sea, revealing a series of gabions (rock-filled wire
baskets) that had been in place since 1976 to help protect the
coastline. The weather also worsened erosion of a previously
eroding unprotected cliff face to the north of the existing
defences.
Immediate emergency action was taken to contain the damage and
stop the rapid erosion and so help safeguard nearby homes.
Contactors placed new gabions in front of the cliff where the main
erosion took place although works to defend the cliff at its
closest point to the properties were destroyed by severe
weather
While there was a partial recovery in beach levels, the local
community, Suffolk Coastal’s coast protection team, the Environment
Agency and Natural England worked together to develop a
lasting solution to this dramatic erosion.
It is thanks to the efforts of the local community in raising
£72,000 that allowed the works to begin as there were no other
sources of national funding available. Suffolk Coastal contributed
£30,000 to the scheme.
A 'soft toe' construction built from large geo-textile bags
filled with sand and shingle has been put in place in the first
phase of the emergency protection works. Bag laying operations were
completed in December 2010 and work to cover the bags with shingle
dug from the Ness was finished in February 2011.