BOURNEMOUTH Council has dismissed claims that newly installed beach groynes along Boscombe seafront are bending.

As part of the council’s ongoing beach management scheme to protect the coastline, eight groynes are in the process of being replaced along the stretch of beach from east of Fisherman’s Walk towards Southbourne.

However some readers have got in touch with the Echo concerned that the newly installed groynes are already bending.

But the council has said "the groynes are subject to some natural movement" and that a slight bend in the groyne is nothing to worry about.

Anthony Kirby, engineering and major contracts manager for the council, said: “The Bournemouth Beach Management scheme is investing over £40m in renewal of the timber groynes and replenishment of sand on the beach as part of a major coastal defence project.

"Constructed from high-strength grade timber and built in sections from horizontal planking and vertical piles, the groynes are subject to some natural movement through the way in which the sand levels on the beach change with seasonal variations and construction activity.

"These changes in the groynes, however, present no hazards to beach users."

This new phase of work is part of a 17 year-long programme to protect against coastal erosion and maintain Bournemouth’s beaches. The programme includes the replacement of all 53 groynes, an additional three installed, and three beach replenishments.

The entire project is expected to cost in the region of £50m, with the majority of funding provided by the Environment Agency and a smaller contribution from Bournemouth Borough Council.

Concerns have also been raised about the type of timber being used to construct the groynes - with claims being made that it had been sourced from tropical rainforests.

According to a report on the beach management scheme the groynes use a combination of Greenheart timber, found in northeast South America, and Ekki timber, found in West Africa.

One groyne has been entirely constructed from an alternative hardwood called Basralocus, which is found in Brazil.

Mr Kirby explained: "The tropical hardwood species are sourced from sustainable sources and have been selected for their strength and durability properties for marine conditions.

"In addition to new timber being purchased for the project, a proportion of the timber to construct the new groynes will come through the older timbers being recycled and reused due to their durability in these sea conditions.”

Work started on the scheme in October last year with a beach replenishment replacing 320,000 cubic metres of sand between Bournemouth Pier and Southbourne.

In March this year part of the beach had to be fenced off between Bournemouth and Boscombe piers due to quicksand, which temporarily formed while the new groynes were constructed.

The work is due to be completed by late spring 2017.