East Overcliff Drive re-opened

Following last month’s landslip at East Overcliff a major clean-up has been taking place in readiness for the Bank Holiday and up coming Wheels Festival.

Working seven days a week the team have been operating from the top of the cliff to remove all loose debris and damage caused by the landslip.

A120 tonne Crawler crane and abseiling team have removed the two damaged cliff lift carriages, and over 100 rock-filled gabion baskets with a total weight of 140 tonnes. Large boulders and sections of cliff vegetation uprooted as a result of the cliff slip have also been removed.

Now the cliff top is cleared of all loose materials and the damaged lift carriages removed, works will be suspended for the Bank Holiday and Wheels Festival.

Works will recommence from the bottom of the cliff area after the Wheels Festival has taken place. This will see the crane repositioned at the promenade level. Working in tandem with the abseiling team, debris and spoil will be cleared from the lower slope and the damaged structure will be removed.

A contractor working zone will remain in place at the lower promenade until further investigation and assessment has been carried out.

Larry Austin, Director for Environment, said; “Despite the complexity of work and the considerable health and safety considerations we have reacted quickly to secure the site and undertake the clearance operation ahead of the Bank Holiday and Wheels Festival.

“Barriers and cordons around the top of the cliff slip site will remain in place and signage is there to keep the public informed. We would ask the public to observe these cordons.

“Once we have completed the clean-up operation we will establish any longer term actions that may be required.”

A close and detailed inspection of the area of cliff from both the top and bottom has shown that no further movement has occurred.

The Wheels Festival takes place on 3–5 June.