Birse Coastal has commenced construction work on the £1.15m Hightown Dune Restoration Project for Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council in the UK. This follows a 12 month Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) period.
The project involves moving thousands of tonnes of sand from Crosby and Waterloo to restore dunes alongside the River Alt. This is intended to protect hundreds of homes in Hightown, along with the historic Blundellsands Sailing Club. The works have been funded by money secured from a legal planning agreement with the housebuilder, Broseleys. These funds can only be spent on coastal defence and dune management.
The works will involve removing sand that has naturally accumulated adjacent to a boating lake in Crosby. The sand will be transported along the foreshore for around 6km and used to restore sand dunes that have eroded through tidal action. To avoid using local roads, the route will pass along the beach to just north of the Coastguard Station. It will then pass between the beach and the cycle track to reach a compound area near the sailing club.
The restored dunes will form a coastal defence to Hightown. Undertaken within a Site of Special Scientific Interest, the excavation, transportation and deposition of the sand is also affected by the tidal cycle. In addition, 120 linear metres of hard defences in the form of sloping revetment will be constructed to provide further protection.
Truck movements along the beach are due to be finished by 24 November, with the bulk of the project completed by 21 December.
