Coastal restorations will save thousands of Hayling homes

A COASTAL maintenance project will lower the '¨flood risk for thousands of homes.

The work on the Eastoke frontage of Hayling Island is being carried out alongside a dredging of the Chichester harbour channel approach.

The operation, which started on September 26, is being carried out to reduce the risk of flooding and coastal erosion for 1,700 homes in the Eastoke area of the island.

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More than 60,000 tonnes of shingle has been dredged from the channel in Chichester to decrease navigational hazards to local mariners.

This material will now be pumped on to the beach in a process known as ‘rainbowing’. An additional 5,000 tonnes of shingle will be brought in as an additional defence.

A portion of the Eastoke Corner car park will be closed to the public during the work, which is expected to last two weeks.

Coastal engineer Clare Wilkinson said: ‘The Eastoke peninsula is a densely-populated area.

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‘The majority of it is low-lying with a record of serious flood events prior to 1985.

‘The beach nourishment scheme was implemented in 1985, creating a man-made beach in front of a now redundant sea wall.

‘Coastal processes are constantly eroding this frontage and, without periodic maintenance, the redundant concrete seawall would again be exposed, increasing flood risk.’

The operation has 
been paid for by a flood defence grant, which was awarded by the Environmental Agency.

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The project is being overseen by the Eastern Solent Coastal Partnership, which combines coastal engineers from Havant Borough Council, Portsmouth City Council, Gosport Borough Council and Fareham Borough Council into one team to manage 162km of coastline across the eastern Solent.