Villagers plead for public meeting over vital £1.5m repairs to damaged sea wall

CALLS have been made for a public meeting about a £1.5m emergency scheme to protect homes in Milford from being damaged by storms this winter.

The bill for the measures has been underwritten by New Forest District Council following dire warnings that dozens of properties could be in danger if work was not started immediately.

Speaking at a meeting of Milford Parish Council on Monday, NFDC Cllr David Hawkins pledged to talk to “the powers that be” to arrange a public meeting when engineers could explain more about the phased programme of repairs.

He said: “I think it would be useful if the people that are actually doing the work could talk to the community. There are a lot of unknowns.”

He pledged to work with fellow Milford NFDC member Cllr Christine Hopkins to arrange a public meeting for engineers to share further details of the planned work.

As reported in the A&T, NFDC contractor Jacobs highlighted the failure of a 270-metre section of the concrete protection, which lies to the west of the Grade II listed White House. It warned that if nothing is done, around 50 properties – including the White House – were at “imminent risk”.

The first phase of the work will involve an 8,500-tonne rock structure to protect up to 180 metres of the wall. This week equipment was moved to the car park at Paddy's Gap in preparation for setting up the site compound next week, and the first smaller rock deliveries for a plant access route.

Weather permitting, work is anticipated to start on 5th September with Larvik rock from Norway to be delivered in two loads totalling about 9,000 tonnes.

An NFDC spokesperson said: “We are continuing to refine the design, and by the very nature of urgent works there will be some elements that cannot be completely designed until on site.”

At Monday’s parish council meeting, however, there were questions about how the second, more expensive phase of the project will be funded, with many speculating that Milford residents, the parish council and those most affected will be asked to contribute.

Resident Robert Mitchell asked for clarification of when the coastal path would be reopened. He said: “I believe the ongoing closure is seriously damaging tourism in Milford.”

Parish council chair Cllr Bob Bishop said the community needed to be told more about how the next phase – to protect the sea wall to the west of the White House towards Paddy’s Gap – would be funded.

He said: “The question is, what happens next? What happens if there is a hell of a winter and the movement of the tide from the west continues to take a hit at Paddy’s Gap and what impact that will have?”

Cllr Bishop said the second phase of the work, which would not progress for at least a year or two, would further strengthen the defences to the west and cost more than £1.5m.

One homeowner warned: “Colin Reid from NFDC has made it perfectly clear that without funding in place they are not going to bankroll the next phase.”

Parish clerk Graham Wells said: “I understand there is lots of uncertainty. However, it was only two months ago when we were looking at a completely different situation with NFDC saying all they would give was £100,000 and everyone else would have to pay up.

“Now here we are in a totally different situation, so I would hope that NFDC do see the urgency in this.”

Another resident told the meeting: “We need practical people on the ground to look and see what’s needed to secure what remains of the sea wall and avoid catastrophic erosion whilst people are talking about what’s needed.”

Cllr Sue Whitlock said: “So to be clear this first phase will not address that major rift in the sea wall. That is extraordinary because surely that is going to get worse.”

Cllr Bishop said: “The second tranche of work is going to cost even more money because it will complete the job.

“If it completes the job there will be a gain to a lot of residents directly and to the rest of the village and to the holidaymakers as well.

“At the moment the first part of the project sets aside any contribution from residents – but that kind of issue needs to be thoroughly thought through in the next phase. I’m sure NFDC will be looking for money next time.”