WORK to replenish beaches in Christchurch will begin in May after councillors gave the go-ahead to new plans.

After concerns were raised by fishermen and other harbour users, the scheme to pump sand from Mudeford Sandbank via a submerged pipeline, was amended by council officers.

A previous scheme to replenish the beaches at Gundimore and Avon Beach had already been passed despite the previous objections.

But officers went back to the drawing board due to potential difficulties over vessels getting in and out of Christchurch Harbour at low tide.

The plans come after severe storms last year decimated sand levels, ‘undermining existing walls and groynes’.

Concerns from Christchurch Harbour Association and Mudeford and District Fisherman's Association, said the initial proposals would have had an adverse impact on the 'navigable channel', which extends from the end of Mudeford Quay to The Needles.

And the Lifeboat Operations manager at Mudeford RNLI said he considered the original siting of the pipeline would restrict the ability of the lifeboat to respond to emergencies during the tidal cycle.

Officers changed their proposal to see a channel being cut through the western end of the sandbar, which would be buoyed to mark its location.

This would allow vessels access to the harbour without any danger of snagging the pipeline, the council say.

Sand and shingle would be pumped from a dredger using a submersible pump alongside the sand bar via a floating pipeline to temporary lagoons on the beach, the plans reveal.

In a planning report, officers said any impact on general boating activities could be addressed by the provision of a channel.

They said there was likely to be some noise disturbance during the dredging, but this would be short-term and nearby properties would be notified.

However, despite the changes there was still an objection from Dorset Wildlife Trust over impact on commercial fishing.

They also questioned what evidence there was to substantiate the claim saying there would be no long-term damage over dredging.

Thirteen other objections were also received from residents over a 'rushed' consultation, changes to the wave pattern at Avon Beach and damage to sand bar.

The work will start in the week of May 11, with dredging from May 15.

Work is is likely to be completed by mid-June.