DIGGERS have descended on Bournemouth’s beach as work starts on building two new groynes. 

Work has begun on the construction of two new groynes on the East Cliff side of the beach after two old ones were demolished. 

The replacement, along with two other groynes on the other side of Bournemouth Pier on West Cliff, are part of a £33 million government investment to help prevent coastline erosion. 

Work on the East Cliff side started this month and is scheduled to be completed by December. Work to install two new groynes in West Cliff will start in January 2023 and should be completed in March. 

Bournemouth Echo: Timber groyne renewal works in Bournemouth and Poole.Timber groyne renewal works in Bournemouth and Poole. (Image: Suttle Projects Ltd)

Read more: Four timber groynes by Bournemouth Pier to be replaced

The BCP Council project forms part of the Poole Bay Beach Management Scheme, which is designed to protect the coastline from flooding and erosion – as well as making it more resilient to predicted sea level rise for the next 100 years. 

Each new groyne will be constructed using a mix of tropical hardwood timber and recycled tropical hardwood planking, from previously deconstructed timber groynes. 

Approximately 225 planks of timber make up one groyne, with the top five rows usually constructed with new timber and the bottom 12 to 14 rows using recycled timber. 

The promenade remains open during work but for safety reasons the area of the beach where work is taking place will be fenced off. 

Work is being completed during normal working hours, but teams have warned they may have to work outside normal hours depending on the tide.