Folkestone to Hythe Sea Flooding Protection Work Underway

Work on coastal flooding protection has started following the winter storms which have tested the sea defences of Folkestone and Hythe beaches.

Heavy plant and machinery has been brought in to move some 180,000 tonnes of shingle between Folkestone coastal park and Fisherman's Beach at Hythe.

Shepway council engineers say the beach was damaged by the loss of shingle following the battering of wind and waves in the storms but the sea defences did their job.

Over the next two months, the council has arranged for local contractors to restore the beach by recycling the shingle. This will help protect the coastline and the thousands of homes along a nine-kilometre stretch of the coast.

The Environment Agency has made available an extra £179,000 to carry out the essential work, bringing their total spend on coastal flood protection in Shepway for the year to £400,000.

Shepway council carries out the beach work twice a year in spring and autumn to avoid damage to properties. This follows a major Environment Agency protection operation costing several million pounds 10 years ago.

Until April 5, the council car park at Battery Point, Sandgate, will be closed to the public and used for the safe storage of contractors' heavy plant and machinery during the beach operation. Drivers are being directed to the alternative car park at Seapoint, and on street parking at Princes Parade.