£1.3m coastal defence
works to shore up
resort’s sea defences

If the wall protecting the southern end of Royal Prince’s Parade in the resort was to go, it is estimated 39 homes and 15 businesses would be lost, at a cost of £11m.

Some £1.3m could be spent on the coastal defence works using granite shipped across from Norway to shore up the wall at the corner where it meets the North Pier. The wall needed emergency repairs after collapsing in 1995.

East Riding Council’s principal engineer Mike Ball said: “They did some emergency repair work which has stood it in good stead for 15 years, but the time has now come for something more substantial to be done, just at that corner where it meets the North Pier.”

The council is trying to do the work outside the holiday season and may start later on this autumn.

Fishermen could be in line for compensation as they will be unable to work in the area of the barge bringing in the granite.

A planning application will be discussed on Monday by the eastern area planning sub-committee, meeting at County Hall, Beverley.

In a report, officials say the defences have steadily deteriorated over the past decade because of the impact of waves and lowering of beach levels which threaten to undermine its foundations.

It adds: “Should the current steady lowering of beach levels continue or a storm event occur, there is a real danger that the seawall could become undermined and possibly collapse. It is estimated that in the event of wall failure and subsequent outflanking a total of 39 households and 15 businesses would be lost... Tourism and recreation which form an important part of the current local economy would also be affected.”

The final design aims to combine the upgrading of coastal defence works along Royal Princes Parade and the strengthening of foundations along the seaward side of the listed North Pier.