SEVEN weeks of work is under way on Felixstowe seafront to try to stop the erosion of the resort’s holiday beaches.

The new £10million Central Felixstowe works have not yet stabilised and tonnes of sand and shingle is still being swept away on storm tides, with a shelf now all along the beach between Cobbold’s Point and near the Spa Pavilion.

Council coastal engineers are confident that the shore level will improve but say extra work has been identified to help the situation.

Contractors Brooks and Wood Ltd are now working on the shore between the Town Hall and the pier in Undercliff Road West.

“We are looking at improving three of the old groynes on the north side of the pier but not because they are showing wear and tear, although we will look at that aspect as well, but more as a way of trying to keep the beach levels consistent along the length of the prom,” said a Suffiolk Coastal spokesman.

“The beach levels are still stabilising after the completion of the Central Felixstowe works, and currently it seems that a few of the old groynes need to be capped to help keep the beach material in place.

“The work should take about four weeks and then it is planned to look at another two or three of the old groynes the other side of the pier; again possibly taking another four weeks.”

The Central Felixstowe scheme is designed to protect 1,500 homes and businesses and seafront attractions for the next 100 years.

It features 18 rock groynes, each 40 to 50 metres long, 50 metres apart, built from 50,000 tonnes of granite.

In addition, 78,000 cubic metres of mainly sand and some shingle was pumped ashore to bolster the beaches and give them a good start.

The old Victorian wall around Cobbold’s Point was replaced with a walkway made from 150 pre-cast 16-tonne blocks, with protective sheet piling hammered in to a depth of 11.5 metres, with 23,000 tonnes of rock in front to keep the sea at bay.