Improvements to a vulnerable 200m length of seawall at South Beach in Lowestoft, were substantially completed on 4 March 2008. The work was carried out to protect the seawall toe and repair the historic flint wall.

Works to the wall running south from opposite the East Point Pavilion, which were part of a £250,000 repair programme, were substantially completed on 4 March. The promenade over that frontage is now clear of construction equipment and cabins.

Commenting on the work, Councillor Ken Sale, Portfolio Holder for the Built Environment said: “As part of the improvements, we have added steel sheet piles and a concrete step at the base of the walls, which will usually be covered under normal `summer’ conditions but may become exposed after certain tidal movements.

“We are pleased with the results and satisfied that this length of seawall now offers a uniform standard of protection against erosion to the majority of South Lowestoft Beach’s frontage. There are structures at other locations that are susceptible to damage during extreme conditions, which may require improvement works in the future.”

Some barriers will remain in place in this area, to isolate parts of the seawall and two access slopes that were damaged during the November 2007 surge tide. Work to repair this damage, which requires specialist flint working skills and includes re-securing dislodged coping stones and the resurfacing of one ramp, is under preparation and will be completed before the late May Bank Holiday.