Jan 21 2014
Update on Beach Re-cycling and Proposed Flood Gate 21st Jan 2014
During late December your General Committee attended an on site meeting with Richard Atkins from Southend Borough Council together with the Council contractors to discuss the proposed sliding flood gate and their plans for beach re-cycling along the foreshore.
Since this meeting, we have been in regular and meaningful discussion with the Council officers and their contractors and it is encouraging to report that our Council are very supportive of TBYC and are prepared to listen and react to the concerns that your General Committee have and continue to put forward.
Beach Re-cycling.
I am please to advise that last week the Council and Council Contractors have honoured our agreement and recycled sand onto the TBYC Beach.
Contrary to a rumour put about by a member of a flood defence opposition group who implied the Council were going to remove sand from the TBYC beach, the Council contractors have moved a considerable tonnage of sand onto the upper part of the TBYC beach. This sand has been re-cycled from the excess build up of sand and shingle from the bays to the west of the TBYC beach. We understand further sand will be moved from these same bays to recharge the beach to the east of our slipway. This operation will provide some protection for the beach hut owners where their beach huts and foundations have taken a recent pounding and in some cases have unfortunately been damaged beyond repair.
The re-cycling of sand onto the upper part of the TBYC beach has re instated the raised platform of sand that is so vital to our daily activities by maintaining a respectable dry area during High Water Spring tides and the sea wall. Final grading of the raised platform will be completed by the end of January 2014.
Whilst moving beach material downstream is far from ideal, it does make a start and demonstrates good willing by the council to listen to our views for which we are grateful for their co operation.
Proposed Flood gate
The Council provided us with site plans during the December meeting which show the proposed realignment of the western part of the seawall to be in line with the eastern part. The present gap east to west is maintained and the width at the top of the cobbled ramp is slightly increased due to this re- alignment. We have raised a question concerning the footprint of the east / west gap so a sufficient turning circle is maintained at the top of the cobbled ramp to ensure there is no restriction with the movement of Sandhoppers and Cruisers during lift in / out. The Council have advised the proposed sliding flood gate and associated sea wall will be no more than one metre in height off the existing promenade level and will retract on the southern side of the proposed western sea wall.
Detailed plans of the flood gate will be published by the Council after planning is granted. Southend Borough Council have made it very clear that they welcome the opportunity to work in co-operation with the club and will do all possible to accommodate the club’s views, concerns and requirements in the design stage.
With the existing flood risk assessment, it is highly unlikely that the sliding gate would ever need to be shut which if the need ever arose would be the responsibility of the foreshore officers.
The Council have informed us of a proposed start date of Oct / Nov 2014.. With the forthcoming spring elections, there is the real possibility depending on the view of the electorate that the Shoebury Common flood defence scheme and the flood gate may not actually go ahead.
The position of The General Committee concerning the flood defence schemes remains unchanged.
The General Committee will unanimously oppose any sea defence works that will hinder and or restrict our access to our slipway and to the SBC cobbled ramp and public beach. Your General Committee are only concerned with the design detail and of the operational aspects of the Councils proposal of a sliding flood gate on the area around the slipway and the cobbled ramp which could affect our launching, recovery and access. However from our part it is wise to continue negotiations with the Council on the basis that it may go ahead and if so, to ensure we achieve what is best for the club.
Mike Thomason
Commodore.
4 Responses to “Update on Beach Re-cycling and Proposed Flood Gate 21st Jan 2014”
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I would still not trust them further than I could move the beach. Remember that they moved sand on the Shoebury Common beach the wrong way! Either stupidity, bad management or deliberate?
Well done to the General Committee for taking a constructive approach with the scheme promoter ( i.e the Council) on this matter and ensuring that the club’s interests are properly taken into account.
Well done for providing accurate information and taking a constructive approach in the club’s interest.
Graham, no one is against ‘appropriate’ sea defence work.
Mike actually says:
‘With the existing flood risk assessment, it is highly unlikely that the sliding gate would ever need to be shut…’
Robin. I think you have hit the nail on the head. It is clear that the proposals for the sea defences have always taken into account the yacht club’s activities by leaving the full width and level of the access to our slipway and the public beach and the gate would rarely be closed. Therefore there never has been any threat to the club’s sailing activities. As Mike’s web posting says, the ‘….Council are very supportive of TBYC…..’
I believe that the General Committee are right to be having constructive talks with the Council and their contractors as the devil is always in the detail and the club can have detailed input and be kept informed of progress.