Council responds to Earnse Bay, Walney, defences washing away

Bags of rock to increase the stability of the natural embankment close to West Shore Park on Walney were recently placed by the council as a short-term solution in a bid to stop coastal erosion.

But after recent high tides, many of the rocks have washed onto the beach.

The council acknowledged that there had been 'displacement' of the rock roll bags and said it had contacted the contractor to repair them. 

The resident called the sea defence project 'a total waste of time and money' (Image: Submitted)

Sheila Stephenson, a resident of West Shore Park, has previously raised the issue to The Mail and to the Barrow and Furness MP Simon Fell. 

"It's really really bad, it's getting serious," Sheila said. "I'm on the top site. For the people that live on the top site, they say it doesn't affect us - it affects everybody, the electrics are on the bottom site." 

Sheila said that the section at West Shore Park would warrant a sea defence wall like the one protecting the A5087 Coast Road: "It's people's livelihoods, it's people's homes," she said.   

A rock roll bag found lying on the beach (Image: Submitted)

Another resident described the council's sea defence strategy as a 'waste of time and money' after she took photos of rocks washed onto the beach.

She said workers spent 'weeks' piling the bags on top of each other. 

She said: "With the ten-metre tide this week the 'wall' has already disintegrated with many 'bags' lying on the beach. The remainder of the wall will soon be washed away. It’s a total waste of time and money and homes still at risk." 

READ MORE: Residents in West Shore Park worry about coastal erosion

A spokesperson for Westmorland and Furness Council said: "The council is aware of the coastal erosion that has been occurring during recent years, in particular to the immediate north of the existing rock armour sea defence at Earnse Bay.

“Working with the residential park owner, the council has recently undertaken some minor works to enhance the short-term erosion protection offered to the chalets closest to the shoreline at West Shore Park. This work included using pre-filled bags called ‘rock rolls’ to reinforce the north end of the existing rock revetment helping to increase the stability of the natural embankment.

The rock roll bags installed by contractors to protect the land directly north of West Shore Park (Image: Submitted)

“Following recent high tides, there has been some displacement of a number of these rock rolls which has been raised with the designer and installation contractor. The council is making arrangements for them to attend the site at the earliest opportunity to undertake the necessary repairs.

“As part of a wider piece of work, the council is working in partnership with Our Future Coast, who have been awarded funding through Defra’s Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme (FCRIP) to identify and develop innovative, nature-based solutions to coastal flood and resilience challenges. This includes a project focusing on West Shore Park which is commissioning a study to gain a more complete understanding of the coastal erosion processes taking place, the impact these may have over time on property and infrastructure, and to determine whether there are viable options for decreasing erosion risks by altering the existing groyne structure and/or the use of nature-based solutions.

“In recent weeks, the council and Our Future Coast team have met with residents, the public, and local councillors through home visits and open drop-in sessions, to hear and understand concerns, thoughts and ideas. This feedback will help us to shape and inform the study, future plans, and strategies.”