Council’s shore-ing up job is first class!

Sections of the sea wall which had been damaged by a century of exposure to the elements have been reinstated using heavy mass concrete blocks inlaid with ragstone pieces.

Damaged concrete blocks on top of the sea wall were also replaced and groyne timbers which had become rotten have been removed and new ones substituted.

Councillor Mark Flewitt, Executive Councillor for Planning and Transport, said: "The current works have returned the repaired areas of wall, as far as possible, to their "as new" condition.

"There have been a number of repairs carried out in the past which of necessity did not match the original work.

"But this is the first attempt in a long time to restore the sea wall to its original condition, thanks to the increased budget made available by the Council for maintenance of flood defences. "

Cllr Flewitt hit back at recent claims by a local resident who claimed the Council was repairing the sea wall "on the cheap".

He said: "To suggest this work is shoddy is deeply insulting to both the Council maintenance team and the highly competent and nationally respected contractor responsible for the work. 

"I can assure local residents concrete is an entirely appropriate material for sea defences and that the work that has been completed is as good as the original work.

Sea wall and groyne repairs along the Westcliff and Chalkwell sea fronts have now been completed, except for the complete renewal of the groyne at the west end of Chalkwell Beach.

This work is due to start by the end of June and be completed before the school summer holidays begin.

Contractors will shortly commence work on replacing rotten groynes in the Shoebury area, which has already been used as a source for sand recycling work in the central seafront.

For more information about this media release please call the Media and Communications Team on 01702-215000 ext 5939 or 5505 or e-mail media@southend.gov.uk