Residents and visitors to Pevensey Bay will witness a spectacular sight this September as the Sospan Dau dredging vessel returns to deliver £1 million worth of essential coastal flood defence work.
The Sospan Dau returns to Pevensey Bay on Sunday 7 September to begin its annual exercise of replenishing Pevensey Bay’s shingle defences over the course of several high tides.
The specialist ship will transport approximately 30,000 tonnes of shingle, dredged offshore near Littlehampton, and create a rainbow-like arc as it is sprayed onto the shoreline near Sovereign Harbour.
This work is timed to coincide with high tides over several weeks and plays a critical role in protecting more than 3,000 homes and businesses across Sovereign Harbour, Pevensey Bay, and Normans Bay. Once deposited, the shingle will be naturally redistributed along the coast through the process of longshore drift.
The shingle beach at Pevensey Bay is a vital flood defence, absorbing wave energy and reducing the impact of storm surges. Its importance is heightened during the winter months, when high tides and storms combine to create hazardous conditions. Natural coastal processes continually move shingle along the shoreline, making regular replenishment essential to maintain effective protection.
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Paul Levitt, Environment Agency beach manager at Pevensey Bay, said:
"This annual shingle replenishment is essential for maintaining the flood defences that protect our coastal communities.
"By carrying out this work in September, we’re ensuring the beach is in the best possible condition to withstand winter storms and high tides."
Nick Gray, flood and coastal risk manager for the Environment Agency in Sussex, said:
"Sea levels are projected to rise by more than one metre in southern England over this century, and with more frequent powerful storms also predicted, the risk of increased coastal erosion and flooding is likely.
"Early preparation is key to keeping communities safe"
The work forms part of the broader Pevensey Bay to Eastbourne Coastal Management Scheme, one of the largest coastal flood risk projects in the country.
[Main image: The Sospan Dau spraying shingle onto the shore at Southsea, credit Gail Heaton / shutterstock.com]