Works to protect Christchurch’s coast, which are to start at the beginning of May, will take up to six weeks.

Matt Hosey head of flood and coastal erosion risk management BCP Council said: “Our monitoring programme shows that beach levels across Christchurch have generally remained healthy since 2003.  Part of the works involve topping-up depleted beach areas by recycling and re-distributing local material, as well as realigning and re-shaping a number of rock groynes.  The beach and groynes work together to protect the seawall and areas behind it from erosion by the sea.”

Mackley Civil Engineering has been appointed to carry out works on behalf of BCP Council and will be on-site setting up compound areas from Tuesday 4 May. As with previous coastal maintenance, the contractor will work with the most suitable tide levels. This means they could work at any time of the day, night or at weekends.

The promenade, beaches and access routes will remain open throughout the works. However, heavy machinery will be operating on the seafront using agreed routes to avoid damage to mature dunes at the top of the beach. The eastern end of Highcliffe beach (under Cliffhanger Café) will be used to store all the additional rock armour needed for the groyne and path repairs.

Beach users during this time are asked to adhere to any on-site signage and to avoid areas where works are in progress for safety reasons.