New coastal defences to protect ageing sea wall

The coastline was hit by a record number of storms last winter, New Forest District Council says

Measures are being put in place to protect a coastline that has been battered by winter storms.

Coastal defences will be installed at Milford on Sea beach in Hampshire later.

Rocks will be put by the ageing sea wall to give it protection from the waves.

Shingle will then be added to give the beach more height and damaged groynes will also be repaired to prevent erosion.

'Vitally important'

The first stage of the work, carried out by New Forest District Council, will see 1,100 tonnes of rock delivered to the beach at the beginning of September.

Placed at the eastern end of the beach huts, where beach levels are low, the rock will help dissipate wave energy and allow shingle to settle more easily.

Phase two of the works will begin in October, when 2,500 tonnes of shingle will be poured onto the beach.

Geoffrey Blunden, the council's portfolio holder for environment and sustainability, said the coastline saw a "record number" of storms last winter.

"This has resulted in the continued lowering of beach levels, reducing the level of protection to coastal defences and assets," he said.

"This piece of maintenance work is vitally important to provide protection to an aging sea wall."