Repair works set to begin at damaged promenade

Repairs at Southwold's collapsed promenade are set to begin in February

Repairs to fill voids under a collapsed section of promenade at a coastal resort are set to begin later this month, ahead of a planned restoration of a sea wall.

Two rectangular-shaped sections of the seafront walkway in Southwold, Suffolk, fell inward following erosion and stormy weather in December 2024.

East Suffolk Council's repairs and maintenance contractor, the Water Management Alliance (WMA), will begin work on the damaged section of promenade, north of the pier, from 24 February.

The WMA will be filling the voids under the promenade and replacing the collapsed slabs and this work will take about three weeks to complete and precedes planned repairs to the "toe" of the sea wall.

East Suffolk Council's repairs and maintenance contractor, the Water Management Alliance, is due to begin work on the damaged section of promenade from 24 February

A council spokesperson said the toe repairs had originally been scheduled for later this year.

"However recent erosion had exposed this area more quickly than expected, which resulted in the partial collapse of the promenade and the repair works have been brought forward as quickly as possible," they said.

Work on the seawall was due to begin from 22 April and was still intended to be completed before the start of the school summer holidays.

Philip Ridley, East Suffolk Council's head of nationally significant infrastructure, said the repairs to the promenade would see the seafront "returned to its former good condition".

A works' compound will be sited in the council-owned car park at Southwold Pier, reducing the number of available parking spaces.

Both car parks north of the pier would remain open.

There will be no access to the promenade or the beach in the area where the works will be taking place.