THE next phase of major works to replace timber groynes on the seafront will start in the autumn.

BCP Council’s Poole Bay Beach Management Scheme to replace timber groynes to the west of Bournemouth and replenish sections of Bournemouth’s beaches with sand started in October 2020.

A spokesman from BCP Council said: “From October 2020 to March 2021 coastal management works to replace timber groynes from the Poole/ Bournemouth boundary to Middle Chine were completed on time.

“These works saw the removal of five life-expired groynes and the installation of four more evenly spaced new ones. A high and wide beach is the coastline’s primary flood defence which is then supported by groynes to slow down the natural process of beach material moving eastwards along Poole Bay.”

The spokesman added: “The next phase of timber groyne renewals is planned to start in October 2021 from east of Middle Chine to West Cliff zig-zag. Three old groynes will be replaced with four more evenly spaced ones.

“Further works carried out as part of the Poole Bay Beach Management Scheme, have seen seven depleted beach areas from Southbourne to Poole renourished with sand and beach material.

“Running from February 2021 and completed on time and on budget before Easter, a total of 350,000 cubic metres of material was pumped ashore from dredgers and placed at seven strategic locations around the bay taking in both Poole and Bournemouth.

“The next renourishment campaign is due to take place in 2025.”