New Forest District Council’s begins coastal repair programme for Milford

MAINTENANCE works on Milford’s coastal defences will get under way soon.

Large rocks will be placed in front of the seawall, groynes repaired, and shingle added to “increase beach levels”, says New Forest District Council.

An authority spokesperson said the first stage of works will include the installation of 1,100 tonnes of rock, known as a rock revetment.

They continued: “The rocks will provide protection from waves along the toe of the seawall, at the eastern end of the beach huts, where beach levels are low.

“This will help dissipate wave energy and allow shingle to settle more easily. Several of the timber groynes in the area will also be repaired.”

The site on Hurst Road was set up from 27th August, with rocks to be delivered to the beach at the beginning of September.

The second stage of the works will include 2,500 tonnes of shingle being delivered to the beach from trucks to improve beach levels and help further protect the seawall ahead of the winter. This is expected to take place in October.

NFDC’s cabinet member for environment and sustainability, Cllr Geoffrey Blunden, said: “This coastal frontage has in recent years experienced a continued increase in winter storms, with the winter of 2023/24 seeing a record number of storms impacting on our vulnerable coastline.

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

“This piece of maintenance work is vitally important to provide protection to an aging seawall and supports the shoreline management policy of ‘hold the line’.

“This maintenance work is also in line with the Christchurch Bay and Harbour flooding and coastal erosion management strategy that is currently going through the council to be adopted.”