ASSET MAINTENANCE

Spring 2026

Avon beach to Highcliffe beach maintenance works

Following a successful funding bid to the Regional Flood & Coastal Committee, a project for £380,000 of maintenance works is underway for Christchurch beaches to strengthen the existing groynes and recycle existing beach material.

Detailed plans are underway with an anticipated start date in Spring 2026. The works are supported by Christchurch Town Council and BCP Council.  

Our regular monitoring and beach level surveys will continue meanwhile.

July 2025

Kinson Dam borehole investigations

Kinson Dam is an important asset to manage inland flood risk in Kinson. When full, in times of stormy weather, the dam contains more than 3000m³ of water.  To ensure it continues to function effectively, we carried out ground investigations including borehole sampling. The data collected will be analysed to help better understand how the dam structure interacts with groundwater and determine future maintenance requirements. 

May 2025

Aids to Navigation – 2025 Groyne Marker Annual Inspection passed

Local Aids to Navigation across the coastline of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole were inspected by Trinity House on 8 May 2025. The groyne markers were assessed to be overall in good and efficient order, with only minor defects noted for future maintenance works.

If you see a damaged or missing marker, please report it via coastal@bcpcouncil.gov.uk

March 2025

Beach gabion storm damage repair works – Southbourne Beach

Repairs have been made to the storm damaged wire gabion baskets at the lower section of the sand ramp that leads from the beach towards Solent Beach car park.

March 2025

Groyne Marker repairs – Avon Beach, Christchurch

Groyne Markers are important aids to navigation. 

Two groyne markers at Avon beach have been repaired by Earlcoate. Using low tides the works replaced one groyne marker and one top mark.

November 2024

Lake Pier rock armour at Hamworthy, Poole

Storm damaged gabion baskets have been replaced with more robust rock armour defences to protect the harbour frontage, pier head and car park at Lake Pier from coastal erosion.

These works will strengthen a 55 metre length of harbour frontage and were co-ordinated as part of the recently completed Lake Pier repair project.

October – November 2024

Groyne renewals at Hengistbury Head Beach

Two life-expired timber groynes at Hengistbury Head Beach have been replaced and strengthened with rock at the seaward end. The works are part of the Poole Bay Beach Management Scheme and we made efficient use of the machinery and rock already on site for the Long Groyne upgrade.

September – November 2024

Hamworthy Park Seawall (East) Repairs

Works to reinforce and refinish the eastern facing seawall which protects Hamworthy promenade and park from coastal flooding and erosion.

Project details & updates

October 2024

Whitley Lake – repairs to slipways and steps

Repairs were made at six locations to improve recreational access to the water frontage at Whitley Lake, Shore Road/Banks Road, Poole.

Funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy awarded to Sandbanks Community Group, works were delivered by Avon Construction.

September 2024

Groyne Marker repairs – Christchurch beaches

Six groyne markers were installed by our contractors, Earlcote during the low spring tides along the Avon Beach & Friars Cliff Beach frontage, replacing those damaged during recent storms.

These replacement markers are trialling a new composite material shaped into 4 individual fins, as an alternative to the older style traditional cross-frame.

The images below illustrate the stages of installing a new groyne marker (18 – 19 September)

Groyne Markers are important aids to navigation. If you see a damaged or missing marker, please report it via coastal@bcpcouncil.gov.uk

September 2024

Highcliffe Cliff Top Car Park Counterfort Drain Improvements

The counterfort drain system at Highcliffe has been improved to better remove water from the car park surface and cliff face to help reduce sea cliff erosion. Works also included ensuring that water can drain effectively at the bottom of the cliff and the existing scour hole on the track below the cliff was filled with 20 tonnes of crushed stone to match the  existing material.

May 2024

Rock revetment replenishment at Holes Bay, Poole

We made repairs to the revetment that protects the shared cycle/footpath on the edge of Holes Bay. New rocks were added at key points to prevent this important route from being undermined by the tidal action of the sea water. Our photo shows how the sea had started to scour the edge of the footpath but new rock will strengthen the protection. The works took less than one week and access past the site was maintained. 

February 2024

Gabion basket repairs at Double Dykes, near Hengistbury Head

Ahead of the repair and upgrade of Hengistbury Head Long Groyne, and to maintain the structural stability of the footpath, we reconstructed approx. 50 gabion baskets, damaged during the recent named storms. Works included re-packing stone and stitching new mesh onto the affected baskets.  Our contractor was Avon Construction Ltd.  This work is a short-term measure while we consider options for more permanent coastal defences.

April 2023

Aids to Navigation – 2023 Groyne Marker Annual Inspection passed

120 local Aids to Navigation across the coastline of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole were inspected by Trinity House on 26th April 2023. The groyne markers were assessed to be in good and efficient order, with only seven minor defects noted for future maintenance works.

If you see a damaged or missing marker, please report it via coastal@bcpcouncil.gov.uk

April 2023

Sterte Pumping Station, Poole – Flap valve replacement

Three flap valves were replaced to ensure the continued efficient operation of the pumping station at Sterte Industrial Estate, Sterte Road.

Works were delivered by contractors Aquatic Control Engineering Ltd and Avon Construction Ltd.

March 2023

Timber Groyne repairs at Avon Beach, Christchurch

A number of timber groynes across Avon Beach were repaired during March, including failed planks and bolts that were replaced with suitable materials recycled from the Poole Bay groyne renewal programme.

These repairs provide a stop-gap while we continue to develop the Christchurch Bay and Harbour Strategy. Once adopted, it will enable us to bid for government funding to deliver viable and realistic coast protection schemes to implement Shoreline Management Plan policy and address the impacts of climate change such as sea level rise.

March 2023

Groyne Marker repairs at Avon Beach, Christchurch

Groyne Markers are important aids to navigation. At the end of January 2023, two markers failed at the eastern end of Avon Beach following stormy weather. For safety reasons they were removed, but replaced in March 2023. Three others in the vicinity were also repaired.

Works were carried out by Earlcoate Construction.

August 2022

Groyne repairs at Solent Beach, Southbourne

Two groynes at Solent Beach were repaired to improve their stability. These groynes are made of rock armour, timber and mesh covered stone, similar to a gabion basket. They help maintain beach material volumes and protect the dunes behind. Works were carried out by Avon Construction Ltd.

June 2022

Gabion basket repairs at Double Dykes, near Hengistbury Head

Some 50 gabion baskets have been repaired following damage caused during Storm Eunice in February 2022. Works were carried out by our contractor, Avon Construction Ltd., and included re-packing the affected baskets with 40 tonnes of stone and securing them with a new mesh.

This work will help maintain the structural stability of the footpath above in the short-term while we consider options for more permanent coastal defences.