If you live near West Bay, you will know that Dorset Council and the Environment Agency are working on vital £10 million sea defences, but did you know:
- 148 homes and 112 businesses will be better protected from flooding
- 40,000 tonnes of granite is being used
- the largest rocks used weigh 10 tonnes
- the defences are on a tight schedule to complete by start of July
- the work cannot be carried out in autumn or winter due to storms and rough seas.
Please bear with us, we apologise for any disturbance, your beaches will soon be back and better protected from flooding. Hear more here from Nigel Bennetts, Environment Agency Project Manager.
Programme of works updates and more detailed information will be on display near the beaches and drop-in sessions will also be held at the Salt House, West Bay, on 30 May, 13 June and 27 June from 1.30pm – 4.30pm.
For those keen on engineering, here is more detailed information about what is being done on west beach.
And here is more information about the works on east beach.
General information about the works is also available.
How do the residents of West Bay get any sleep? The work is so loud and continues all night, every night. Last night was especially loud.
Please accept our apologies. The works are vital to protect the bay from flooding and they are on a tight schedule. They are due to be complete by the beginning of July, please bear with us. Thank you and apologies for the disturbance.
Do you want the work done, or would you rather get flooded out in the annual storms?
The works will be an immense benefit to West Bay.
The ‘noise’ is a small price to pay and it’s only for a few months!
Thanks for bearing with us!
Not particularly clever with so many car parks lost to these works to also lose half the main park to the Car Boot Sale and the station area to a Fund Raising event.
Hope its managed better today.
Thanks for your comment, I will pass it on to our parking services team.
Thanks for your comment about the use of car parks. Apologies if you were inconvenienced, our parking service have got back to me and explained why these decisions were made. They say that the closure of the Station Yard car park was done for an Air Ambulance charity event, which went well. Signs were clearly displayed explaining and an alternative parking location for motorhomes was provided. A member of parking staff was in West Bay for most of the day to also advise the public of additional free parking a short walk away and many took advantage of this. We also made sure the car boot sale was packed up & cleared out of the overflow section of West Bay Road long stay car park by 12 noon, when many day trippers were arriving either to enjoy West Bay for the afternoon or to cheer on the cyclists as they arrived at the finish line. The defence works were in full flow as they are making good use of the fair weather to get them completed as soon as possible. The works compound has extended further into East Beach car park, but has only encroached on an area that is restricted with regards parking, so no further spaces have been lost. The car boot sale regularly raises much needed funds for local charities, proposals to move it to an alternative location met with significant opposition last year, which is why it is remains in the car park.’
I hope this explains why certain decisions were made, but apologies again. Thank you, Kate