Avon Beach promenade project reaches completion

The major project to upgrade and improve the coastal defences and promenade at Avon Beach in Dorset has completed after contractors and council engineers pulled out all the stops to ensure the site is fully open and operational for the start of the summer season.

The works involved raising and widening a 240m section of promenade to improve access and provide additional seating for visitors to the popular beach, whilst protecting and maintaining its iconic character. The beach level in front of the promenade has also been raised to the same height to maintain level access from promenade to beach, just as was enjoyed by visitors before the scheme.

Cllr Margaret Phipps, Christchurch Borough Council’s champion for rivers and coastal issues said, “This scheme has enabled important coastal defences to be installed in the area. Now the works are completed, we look forward to local residents and visitors to the area being able to enjoy Avon Beach and its promenade over the summer.”

In 2017, funding of £89,320 was received towards the costs of the Avon Beach promenade’s improvements as part of the successful ‘Dorset Coastal Connections’ bid to the Coastal Communities Fund.

Jake Berry MP, Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth, is responsible for local growth initiatives including the Coastal Communities Fund. He said, “As the first few rays of sunshine break through the winter blues, it’s time to visit Dorset where CCF has supported Christchurch in improving the historic promenade at Avon Beach for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations of local residents and visitors, and for the protection of this beautiful coastline.”

The project is the first in the Dorset Coastal Connections portfolio to be fully completed, just ahead of improvement projects at Bournemouth’s Pier Approach and Kimmeridge’s revamped ‘Wild Seas Centre’, which are both due to finish in the coming weeks.

The Avon Beach promenade improvements were carried out as part of Dorset Coastal Connections, a portfolio of 18 connected projects, which aim to improve physical, digital and emotional connections to the coast in Dorset. Dorset Coastal Connections is a partnership project supported by the Coastal Communities Fund.