'Multiple millions' needed for town's sea defences

More than 300 concrete slabs on Hunstanton's mile-long promenade could need replacing

"Multiple millions" of pounds will need to be spent to repair a coastal resort's sea defences to protect it from flooding, a council has said.

Coastal erosion has led to the beach dropping at Hunstanton, Norfolk, meaning parts of the sea wall's foundations have become exposed and damaged.

King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council said more than 300 of the concrete slabs on the promenade could need replacing as well.

Environmental health manager Dave Robson insisted the prom was not "structurally hazardous" and "it's safe to come to the beach".

Investigations have been carried out on all sections of Hunstanton's promenade

Stretching 1 mile (1.5km) across the front of Hunstanton, around £200,000 is spent on maintaining the town's sea defences every year.

But last year, the council began a deeper investigation into their condition and found that some sections – including those near the Oasis leisure centre and pier – were "at risk of future structural failure".

Changes to offshore tides had washed away sections of beach, whilst the promenade surface – built in the 1950s – was "reaching the end of life".

The council said parts of the sea wall's base would need "extra protection" and other sections may need repairs, whilst up to 338 concrete slabs on the promenade could have to be replaced.

The cost "will be multiple millions" warned Mr Robson, who said that although a 10 tonne vehicle weight limit had been added to the prom, it was "still safe to come to the beach".

"It's not structurally hazardous at the moment. We're not going to close the prom off and say don't come," he added.

Councillor Sandra Squire said the council wanted to secure the future of the prom

Planning the work could take up to 18 months whilst rebuilding is expected to take at least two years.

Meanwhile, the council hopes it can get funding from the Regional Flooding and Coastal Committee, which allocates money from central government.

Sandra Squire, the Cabinet Member for Environment and Coastal, said that given the age of the seafront, the authority had already expected major works would have to happen in the next decade:

"At the moment we're spending hundreds of thousands of pounds a year putting in mortar to repair cracks and joints when that can be washed out with the next winter storm," said Squire, a member of the Independent Partnership which runs the council.

"So this is really looking to the future of the prom and securing its future."