Work to stabilise a section of cliffs in Holland-on-Sea will get underway later this month.
Contractors will begin the £2.1million scheme from 28 June on behalf of Tendring District Council (TDC).
Alex Porter, TDC Cabinet Member for Leisure and Tourism, said the project was not only essential, but would help to improve the area.
“This project will safeguard the Holland-on-Sea area for many years to come, protecting important infrastructure,” Cllr Porter said.
“But more than that it will also improve our seafronts, enhancing beach hut provision and ensuring we have beautiful promenades for people to enjoy.”
Cllr Carlo Guglielmi, TDC Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Resources, added: “I am pleased full council agreed in April with the Cabinet decision to reallocate the £1.5million Beach Recharge Reserve to fund this urgent work. With the £36m major sea defence project completed several years ago so successful that there is no requirement to top up the beautiful new beach for the foreseeable future, it is eminently sensible to use that money already set aside, instead of having to borrow and create an on-going cost to the public purse.”
Along three sections of the Holland-on-Sea seafront, around 200 metres of cliff face have slipped since February 2020, with 13 beach huts moved for their protection. It is a different section of cliffs to the stretch that was stabilised under a £5m scheme in 2018-9.
Through the works the gradient of the cliffs will be altered and drainage installed to reduce the build-up of ground water, which is the primary cause of slippage.
To allow the work to take place safely, part of the lower promenade will be closed, with people diverted either along the upper prom or along the beach.
Work is scheduled for completion in early 2022.
If not addressed the cliffs risk further collapse which, in time, could lead to the loss of both upper and lower promenades, as well as sewer systems and the seafront road.
As well as stabilising the cliffs and protecting those amenities for the next 50 to 100 years, there is also the potential for works to add provision for 30 new beach huts.
