Walkers and residents in Ryde will soon be able to traverse the Esplanade without the need to hurdle over large piles of sand, as contractors are set to tackle the newly formed dunes from Monday (19th April).
The Isle of Wight Council says that the large build-up of sand at Ryde beach is to be cleared by contractors using large plant and machinery on the beach sections between Ryde Harbour and Puckpool and the surrounding areas such as the harbour beach, Eastern Gardens and the local highway.
Colin Rowland, council director of Neighbourhoods, said:
“We have not been able to clear the sand as regularly as we normally would due to lockdown restrictions. However, the sand levels are now quite high at Ryde and sand is covering the sea wall path so a big sand clear-up will take place whilst the beach remains relatively quiet.
“We are sorry for any inconvenience caused and thank the public for their co-operation in avoiding the areas we are working to clear, for their own safety. We look forward to welcoming visitors and residents alike, once this popular area is again beach ready in advance of the summer season.”
The compound for the work has already been set up by the contractors and the clear-up work will involve diggers and dumpers.
The work is scheduled to take up to ten days.
Well how could this have happened – oh yes, the council had Ryde Harbour dug out at low tide as you couldn’t get a boat in anymore. The contractor dumped all the sand dug out in one long line stretching from the sea wall by the Hover terminal all the way out for nearly half the length of the pier and a few feet high – this has all been washed back in on the tide and dumped where it is now. More expense clearing up a shoddy job to begin with
Exactly. Lets just dump it all back in the smelly harbour and stop pretending that it is a useful addition to the seafront.
jim – if the contractor had put this sand elsewhere..i.e the other side of the harbour, then it would most likely have washed along the coast further and be spread more evenly, but no, they dumped it on the western side of the harbour, so that loads of it gets washed back into the harbour and the majority is dumped along the sea front – which means the council has to call them back and pay them to do more work…nothing like padding the job out.
You should write novels with a piece of fiction like that.
None of this happened before the harbour was built. Never was an issue. Remove it and it’ll all go away. Just a dumping ground for boats that never move.
Very true fred, no doubt longshore drift helps as well!
Bring it down to Shanklin beach –
We could do with the sand!
Many years ago they took the sand back to the western end of Puckpool Park and covered the then exposed stones. Harbour hasn’t helped, but at least there’s a nice sandy beach there now that can be used even at high tide.
Chances are that the heavy plant will go through the seagrass beds that are supposed to be protected and will cause much damage like what happened when the Monkton Mead outfall was cleared.
The removal, years ago, of the pipes that used to run out across Ryde Sands was the start of very significant East-West sand movement as there was no longer that barrier to normal longshore drift. Ryde Harbour east wall now acts as a barrier to movement so no surprise that sand has built up to the extent that it has.
The sea defence project over at Southsea would be an ideal destination for the sand as it could be transported by boat.
People doing community service could keep on top of th job.