Damage to two-year-old sea defences in north of Portsmouth to be repaired

Portsmouth City Council has confirmed 'superficial damage' to the concrete walls along the North Portsea defences at Tipner, that has been appearing since 2019, will be corrected.

It comes after similar repairs were carried out when the defences were first completed two years ago.

A spokeswoman for the council said: 'The damage occurring is superficial damage to the surface of the concrete.

'This does not affect the structural integrity of the wall or the standard of protection offered to the local area. The superficial damage has been caused by a small rubber strip that sits between the wall joints.

'In certain places the strip is sat too close to the wall’s surface and as a result can cause cracking of the concrete, however this is only an aesthetic issue.'

The work is set to start on April 19 and is expected to be completed by early June to ensure the path is ready for the summer.

Four sections of the coastal path will be closed one at a time and a cycle diversion will be in place down Northern Parade, which will allow cyclists to rejoin the coastal path via Matapan Road.

The spokeswoman added: 'The project team have worked hard to determine the cause together, and to identify a solution to repair the damaged joints, as well as identifying any remaining joints that may be prone to the same problem in the future.

'The repair process will take place this year with the works being carried out by the project team at no cost to Portsmouth City Council.'

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As part of the work, the existing joints that are showing the damage with be locally broken out, including removing the rubber strip and new concrete will be cast to finalise the repair process.

Investigation of all other joints will also be undertaken this year, and if any of these are shown as being unsuitable then these joints will also be repaired.

Currently the damage is only an issue along the Tipner Lake section of the North Portsea Island Scheme.

Access to Hilsea Lido, Blue Lagoon, the South Coast Wakepark and children’s playground will not be affected by the work.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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