Coastal defence renewal works under way

BCP Council warned the public to keep dogs on leads during the project, when parts of the beach would be restricted for safety

Work has begun on the next stage of a two-year coastal defence project.

Photos have been released showing how engineers are replacing two existing timber groynes at the beach below East Cliff in Bournemouth.

This phase of work is expected to take until December.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council warned the public to keep dogs on leads during the project, which will see parts of the beach restricted while excavations of up to 5m (16ft) are dug.

The council said the existing coastal walls had been infested by tiny crustaceans, commonly known as the gribble worm, which create long tunnels just beneath the surface and eventually weaken the wood, causing it to crumble and rot.

The project is funded by central government.

Another two existing groynes will be replaced between January and March at Boscombe Beach East, while work on the three walls west of Boscombe Pier will begin in the autumn/winter period of 2026.