Update 19/01/22
Whilst the weather has been favourable to the sea defences for the last few weeks, there is still a deficit of sediment in the west and a surplus in the east. Consequently dumpers have this week started moving shingle from Cooden to East Stream and to “Deloram”, just west of Normans Bay outfall. By the middle of next week we expect to have 7 dumpers running from Herbrand Walk to Sovereign Harbour. Assuming the weather remains in our favour, we expect to do 5 days of this long distance recycle, before returning to shorter hauls once again. After that the intention is to remove sediment from the Langney beach immediately south of the marina for 5 days and bypass it to the north side of the marina.
In the unlikely event that the weather remains calm, these operations will follow one after the other. In the last 22 years, February has been the worst month for storm waves, so there is every likelihood that these plans will change at some point. I will endeavour to provide updates as things develop over the coming days
Update 25/01/22
From tomorrow 7 dumpers will be travelling in convoy moving shingle from Cooden/Herbrand Walk to Sovereign Harbour. As the weather is expected to remain calm it has been decided to do this work now when there are generally fewer people on the beach rather than wait until March, when there can be periods of warmer, sunnier weather.
Thereafter we expect to continue with a smaller number of dumpers reinforcing other areas that require attention
Additionally we expect to have to bypass shingle round the harbour from Langney Point at some stage before the end of March
Update 03/02/22
The long distance recycling from Cooden to Sovereign Harbour will finish tomorrow. It is predicted to be windy on Sunday, as the current high tides begin to fall, so we expect there to be some minor erosion in places. In order to mitigate for this, there will be three dumpers working, although until it is seen where erosion occurs, we won’t know exactly where they will work. At some point in the next few weeks we expect to start a final week of bypassing from immediately south of the harbour entrance, and possibly a week using shingle from west of Langney treatment works, if we get approval from Eastbourne Borough Council.
The beach is in better condition this year than is normal for February, so to a large degree we are waiting to see what the bigger tides associated with the spring equinox will bring
Update 11/02/22
From tomorrow 7 dumpers will be travelling in convoy moving shingle from Cooden/Herbrand Walk to Sovereign Harbour. As the weather is expected to remain calm it has been decided to do this work now when there are generally fewer people on the beach rather than wait until March, when there can be periods of warmer, sunnier weather.
Thereafter we expect to continue with a smaller number of dumpers reinforcing other areas that require attention
Additionally we expect to have to bypass shingle round the harbour from Langney Point at some stage before the end of March
Update 01/03/22
Although Storm Eunice has been gone for more than a week, it is likely that a full restoration of the defences will take the best part of the next three weeks to complete. Always assuming there are no further storms to come. Historically we have had some significant storms around the time of the spring equinox, so there is no certainty that the worst is behind us. Machines are currently working at Cooden, but as the month progresses will be heading west eventually reaching 'White Horses' and Sovereign Harbour.
It is interesting to note that the paper copy of 2022 tide tables I purchased locally suggests the highest March tide as being 7.3mCD. My own calculations using Admiralty Tide Table data expects there to be 7.9mCD tides on or around 21st March.
Update 18/03/22
Repair work resulting from Storm Eunice – 4 weeks ago today – is almost complete, just in time for the highest tide of spring 2022. Some of the local tide tables suggest we are only expecting a 7.3mCD tide. Our own calculations suggest 7.8mCD early on Monday 21st March. However, the forecast is for moderate Easterlies over the weekend, accompanied by a negative storm surge, so we are not expecting too much to happen.
That being the case dumpers will do some final shingle moving next week, after which we expect to drop to just bulldozers pushing up in a few additional places. There is one more 7.8mCD tide to come, on April 17th, so right in the middle of Easter. It is less usual, but not unknown, for there to significant gales in April, so it is expected that machines in one form or another will be here until Easter. Hopefully, they will be able to leave the beach for summer around that time. Time will tell.
Update 04/04/22
The final dumper left the beach on Friday, and providing the 7.8m tides over Easter are storm free, we do not expect them to return until early autumn.
In the meantime bulldozers are doing final reprofiling and general tidying up, with the aim that they too will leave the beach for summer before Easter. We will confirm when the final machine has left the beach
Update 13/05/22
The final bulldozer has finished work for now, and hopefully there will be no requirement for a return until late September or early October
Hopefully we will all enjoy a warm and quiet summer
Update 13/10/22
I think it is safe to say that autumn is now upon us, which doubtless will herald the first gales and storms leading us into winter. Although there was generally little shingle movement over the summer, there are areas that could do with reinforcement before any storms do arrive.
So from Monday a small recycling team will start work, initially outside the Environment Agency depot taking shingle to Leyland cottage and Sea Road car park. From there it is expected that they will move east to Beachlands, Normans Bay East and Herbrand Walk.
Dredger Sospan Dau has been working at Eastbourne, and was expected to start work delivering shingle to Sovereign Harbour towards the end of October. However, she has had some mechanical issues and has lost time to programme, so it may now be November before she reaches Pevensey.
The next few weeks should also see the first bypassing of shingle from south of the harbour on to the north east beach. There is plenty of sediment available, but much of it has drifted west over the summer so is not currently easily accessible. As soon as it moves east and builds up against the southern breakwater, then we will endeavour to remove it before it migrates into the marina
I will provide updates as we know more about Sospan Dau’s position and access to the beach at Langney
Update 14/11/22
Following on from the recent stormy conditions we have seen on the beach over the last three weeks, the recycling team have endeavoured to keep the beach in good condition. We have worked along the 9km stretch undertaking small recycles as well as removing cliffing, shoring up the haul road and shoring up erosion caused by high water levels.
Next week we will start the Bypass from White Point to the North Beach. We will be transporting the shingle with 6 tipper lorries as from Monday 14th. Looking at the weather forecast we are anticipating this activity to last the entire week. Meanwhile, we will also have the excavator and 3 dump trucks working along the beach from the Agency depot and continue to Sea Road Car Park, Sandcastle and White horses and towards the harbour. Following on from these works, we will be working between East Stream to Cooden.
Update 18/11/22
We finally have a few days of sun after three weeks of stormy and very rainy weather. The recycle team have been very busy working along the front this week from the Agency Depot to White Horses carrying out small recycles and smoothing out the crest following on from recent wave action. They have also been able to take material to the North Beach.
Meanwhile, we have another team working at White Point and transporting material from the rock spur to the North Beach. As the weather looks to remain stable into next week, the team will continue to work here until the end of next week. The shingle that has been bypassed has been used to cover the rocks and build out the top of the beach. We are in the process of addressing the voids above the rocks and work is continuing to fill these where possible regarding accessibility.
Next week the recycling team including excavator, dozer and three dumpers will be making their way towards Cooden. First stop on Monday is Normans Bay and then we are looking at carrying out short haul recycles from Cooden near the Hotel.
Enjoy the sun !!!
Update 25/11/22
We have had another week of high winds which has coincided with high tides this week. There is erosion in most places along the beach. The bulldozer has been out over the last two days working along from White Horses and through to Sea Road Car Park. The dozers will be working at low tide tomorrow morning from the Agency depot working towards the sailing club.
The recycling crew are currently working at East Stream Outfall and Normans Bay. The weather has hampered progress. We will have two crews each with an excavator, two dump trucks and bulldozer working next week. One crew will continue to head towards Cooden next week. The other team will be working from The Agency depot towards White Horses.
The shingle bypass has now been completed at White Point and the Outer Harbour. As there is a break in the weather the Sospan Dau will be recharging North East beach from Tuesday 28th November and will be recharging the front during the high tides a.m. and p.m.
With all this activity on the frontage please be vigilant around the machines and works.
Best wishes
Ian & Amber
Ian Thomas & Amber Carr
Project Managers
Pevensey Coastal Defence Ltd
Environment Agency Depot
Coast Road
Pevensey Bay
East Sussex BN24 6ND
Tel: 01323 761202
Fax: 01323 764368
Mob: 07884 234298
email: pcdl@pevensey-bay.co.uk
Website: www.pevensey-bay.co.uk
Updated: Friday, November 25, 2022 17:14