Council: How we'll protect Southend from the sea

8:00am Monday 11th June 2012 in Local News

Changes – the seawall at Southend Changes – the seawall at Southend

RISING sea levels could change the entire face of Southend’s seafront over the next three decades.

That is the grim prediction from council chiefs as they draw up multi-million pound plans to keep the town safe from flood waters.

The Echo revealed last week Southend Council had proposed increasing the height of some seawalls by as much as a metre and bulking up beaches with hundreds of tonnes of sand and pebbles.

Today, we take a closer look at bosses’ early ideas about how to protect thousands of homes from the rising waters.

The changes are likely to be most noticeable in the tourist hotspots of City Beach and Western Esplanade.

At the former, bosses envisage dramatically increasing the size of Jubilee Beach by importing sand and pebbles.

They plan to create an extra five metre plateau, beyond the reach of normal waves, to form a buffer zone between waters and the existing seawall.

At the eastern end of Western Esplanade, near the pier, a new 1.5 metre wall could be built between the road and the promenade to provide an extra layer of protection.

At the opposite end, a new 1.5 metre wall could be built behind the existing barrier for the same purpose.

Large changes have also been predicted between Bell Wharf, in Leigh, and Chalkwell Beach, where an extra 1.2 metres of concrete could be added on top of the current seawall.

Further east, plans have already been drawn up for a £2million embankment on Shoebury Common, which could be completed as early as next March.

If the idea is signed off after a public consultation, council chiefs want to use soil from the cliff stabilisation scheme above Western Esplanade to create the new barrier.

Further east, an extra 1.2 metres could be added to the seawall at the Old Ranges, in Shoebury.

Finally, at East Beach, a new metre-high wall could be built between the beach and the promenade.

The plans, if they become a reality, would cost more than £192million to implement, with much of the work carried out by 2040.

However, council bosses estimate they could prevent damage to property and roads worth up to £1.6billion – as well as people’s lives – if a catastrophic flood did occur.

Council chiefs commissioned specialist firm Black & Veatch to predict what flood defences would be needed to protect the town in the face of global warming.

With estuary sea levels predicted to rise by up to 90cm by 2060, Southend is among the most vulnerable places in the UK.

Comments (13)

8:50am Mon 11 Jun 12

j-w says...

Can anyone point me to some proof that sea levels are rising? I only ask as I have heard it stated quite a few times lately that things are being done due to already rising sea levels and wondered where the effect can be seen? How much are they rising and how quickly? Wallasea used to get cut off frequently, does this happen all the time now for instance? Are there places that now flood at high tide that have never flooded before? Just interested.
Can anyone point me to some proof that sea levels are rising? I only ask as I have heard it stated quite a few times lately that things are being done due to already rising sea levels and wondered where the effect can be seen? How much are they rising and how quickly? Wallasea used to get cut off frequently, does this happen all the time now for instance? Are there places that now flood at high tide that have never flooded before? Just interested. j-w

10:35am Mon 11 Jun 12

R85 says...

j-w wrote:
Can anyone point me to some proof that sea levels are rising? I only ask as I have heard it stated quite a few times lately that things are being done due to already rising sea levels and wondered where the effect can be seen? How much are they rising and how quickly? Wallasea used to get cut off frequently, does this happen all the time now for instance? Are there places that now flood at high tide that have never flooded before? Just interested.
Whether or not sea levels are rising, due to the migration of tectonic plates across the planet, half the coastline in the world is in unstoppably disappearing into the ocean. I often wonder where cities like Los Angeles, Miami, San Fran etc will be in 100, 1000 or 10,000 years! Over time we could keep these cities from disappearing, however that would lead to gargantuan protrusions of man-made/protected/m
aintained land into the ocean as the surrounding land submerges.
[quote][p][bold]j-w[/bold] wrote: Can anyone point me to some proof that sea levels are rising? I only ask as I have heard it stated quite a few times lately that things are being done due to already rising sea levels and wondered where the effect can be seen? How much are they rising and how quickly? Wallasea used to get cut off frequently, does this happen all the time now for instance? Are there places that now flood at high tide that have never flooded before? Just interested.[/p][/quote]Whether or not sea levels are rising, due to the migration of tectonic plates across the planet, half the coastline in the world is in unstoppably disappearing into the ocean. I often wonder where cities like Los Angeles, Miami, San Fran etc will be in 100, 1000 or 10,000 years! Over time we could keep these cities from disappearing, however that would lead to gargantuan protrusions of man-made/protected/m aintained land into the ocean as the surrounding land submerges. R85

12:44pm Mon 11 Jun 12

The Cater Wood Creeper says...

they could always use landfill to raise the level of the land.....
they could always use landfill to raise the level of the land..... The Cater Wood Creeper

1:16pm Mon 11 Jun 12

emcee says...

I doubt I will be around in 2040, let alone 2060. However, if the sea is rising, as they say, then 1 to 1.5 meter walls are not that high so I do not see the problem. Unless you are a tiny person or a young child it will not impare any view and is no worse than a lot of seaside places around the country (or world for that matter).
I doubt I will be around in 2040, let alone 2060. However, if the sea is rising, as they say, then 1 to 1.5 meter walls are not that high so I do not see the problem. Unless you are a tiny person or a young child it will not impare any view and is no worse than a lot of seaside places around the country (or world for that matter). emcee

1:24pm Mon 11 Jun 12

The Cater Wood Creeper says...

emcee wrote:
I doubt I will be around in 2040, let alone 2060. However, if the sea is rising, as they say, then 1 to 1.5 meter walls are not that high so I do not see the problem. Unless you are a tiny person or a young child it will not impare any view and is no worse than a lot of seaside places around the country (or world for that matter).
if they don't upgrade it they'll have a very close view of the sea in 2040 or whenever it is meant to happen......
[quote][p][bold]emcee[/bold] wrote: I doubt I will be around in 2040, let alone 2060. However, if the sea is rising, as they say, then 1 to 1.5 meter walls are not that high so I do not see the problem. Unless you are a tiny person or a young child it will not impare any view and is no worse than a lot of seaside places around the country (or world for that matter).[/p][/quote]if they don't upgrade it they'll have a very close view of the sea in 2040 or whenever it is meant to happen...... The Cater Wood Creeper

2:45pm Mon 11 Jun 12

jayman says...

£192 million!!! who in the hell is costing this? the job will probably involve

pre-cast concrete blocks, some plant machinery, a few hundred tons of sand two dozen labourers and a handful of marine engineers and a shovel or two... it should take six months. (£30 million)
£192 million!!! who in the hell is costing this? the job will probably involve pre-cast concrete blocks, some plant machinery, a few hundred tons of sand two dozen labourers and a handful of marine engineers and a shovel or two... it should take six months. (£30 million) jayman

3:29pm Mon 11 Jun 12

Max Impact says...

If people are worrying about the view why not have the walls thicker so a footpath can be put on top, the current footpath could become a larger cycle path for the terrorcyclists that use the footpath now.

Would people rather have a seawall or get flooded out...
If people are worrying about the view why not have the walls thicker so a footpath can be put on top, the current footpath could become a larger cycle path for the terrorcyclists that use the footpath now. Would people rather have a seawall or get flooded out... Max Impact

3:30pm Mon 11 Jun 12

emcee says...

jayman wrote:
£192 million!!! who in the hell is costing this? the job will probably involve

pre-cast concrete blocks, some plant machinery, a few hundred tons of sand two dozen labourers and a handful of marine engineers and a shovel or two... it should take six months. (£30 million)
Quotes will be, of course, from friends of friends. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.
[quote][p][bold]jayman[/bold] wrote: £192 million!!! who in the hell is costing this? the job will probably involve pre-cast concrete blocks, some plant machinery, a few hundred tons of sand two dozen labourers and a handful of marine engineers and a shovel or two... it should take six months. (£30 million)[/p][/quote]Quotes will be, of course, from friends of friends. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink. emcee

7:29pm Mon 11 Jun 12

Southendman says...

So by the middle of this century we have tall brick walls all along our seafront and quite possible a airport bigger than Heathrow in the middle of the estuary! Will the last person to move out of this dead finished town please turn the light out!!!!!!
So by the middle of this century we have tall brick walls all along our seafront and quite possible a airport bigger than Heathrow in the middle of the estuary! Will the last person to move out of this dead finished town please turn the light out!!!!!! Southendman

11:31pm Mon 11 Jun 12

E-Types says...

The way people's bodies are evolving with the junk 'food' they are bloating themselves with perhaps, in the year mentioned, they can have a voluntary 'sea buffer squad' who will stand buttock to buttock and quell the cruel sea.

Cnut couldn't stop the sea but perhaps Kfc can.
The way people's bodies are evolving with the junk 'food' they are bloating themselves with perhaps, in the year mentioned, they can have a voluntary 'sea buffer squad' who will stand buttock to buttock and quell the cruel sea. Cnut couldn't stop the sea but perhaps Kfc can. E-Types

7:51am Tue 12 Jun 12

rodgdodge says...

Eventually, we will have ` permanent` water at Southend, as even when at `low-tide` there will such a higher level of water the mud-flats will be covered!
An enclosed lagoon, similar to that at Southport(N.W.Englan
d)but much larger, would ensure that at least at the present promenade, it would not be necessary to increase the barriers as much, since the beach would be sheltered from ` Wave-action`.As well as the money income , generated from a hydroelectricity generating scheme,to be incorporated in the design.
Eventually, we will have ` permanent` water at Southend, as even when at `low-tide` there will such a higher level of water the mud-flats will be covered! An enclosed lagoon, similar to that at Southport(N.W.Englan d)but much larger, would ensure that at least at the present promenade, it would not be necessary to increase the barriers as much, since the beach would be sheltered from ` Wave-action`.As well as the money income , generated from a hydroelectricity generating scheme,to be incorporated in the design. rodgdodge

8:14pm Tue 12 Jun 12

maxell says...

sounds to be like BS more propaganda, more like replacement of old tank traps as seen by the old gas works , we will certanley need some defences if we keep on going around sticking our ore in where it is not needed, plus if thames airport happens (hope it will) we will need somthing to stop the water displacment. sign of the times , me think with all the spoil from the london tunnel developments being dumped at potton island lets all move, there will soon be a big hill.or build arks
sounds to be like BS more propaganda, more like replacement of old tank traps as seen by the old gas works , we will certanley need some defences if we keep on going around sticking our ore in where it is not needed, plus if thames airport happens (hope it will) we will need somthing to stop the water displacment. sign of the times , me think with all the spoil from the london tunnel developments being dumped at potton island lets all move, there will soon be a big hill.or build arks maxell

8:18pm Tue 12 Jun 12

BMNO6 says...

Just buy everyone a boat, the money the council waste on CONsultants will no doubt cover the cost for a boat for all.
Just buy everyone a boat, the money the council waste on CONsultants will no doubt cover the cost for a boat for all. BMNO6

Comments are closed on this article.

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree