Around 100,000 tonnes of shingle is being moved, recycled, and regraded in the latest phase of Folkestone and Hythe District Council’s crucial beach management work. To put that staggering figure into perspective, that’s the weight of 1,250 blue whales or approximately 33,000 cars!
This mighty undertaking, which kicked off this week, is focused on the five-mile stretch of coast between Fisherman’s Beach and Folkestone Harbour. The ultimate goal? To help safeguard over 3,000 homes and businesses from the threat of coastal flooding.
The work will take up to eight weeks to complete and represents the most cost-effective and efficient method currently available for protecting our community. According to the council, this modern approach offers far superior protection compared to the traditional timber groynes.
Cllr Stephen Scoffham, Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Biodiversity, emphasised the long-term commitment: “This work has been carried out twice a year since 2004 to reduce the possibility of flooding and coastal erosion by helping to shield the sea wall.
“We secured £2.35m of Environment Agency funding earlier this year to ensure this important programme can continue for the next five years,” Cllr Scoffham added.
The process involves meticulously moving the shingle from east to west. This clever strategy allows the longshore drift—the natural movement of sediment along the coast—to spread the material naturally, boosting our defences and preventing the sea from overtopping the wall during storm events.
Don’t worry about major disruption! The team is committed to keeping any inconvenience to a minimum. Notably, the heavy machinery will take a well-deserved break, with no work scheduled between Christmas and the New Year.