SAND and shingle is now being pumped ashore to replenish Felixstowe's eroded beaches in the latest phase of a £10 million scheme to protect the coast.It will mean restricted access onto the prom - with sections of the walkway shut over the next few weeks to allow the enormous trucks to ferry the material along the seafront.

SAND and shingle is now being pumped ashore to replenish Felixstowe's eroded beaches in the latest phase of a £10 million scheme to protect the coast.

It will mean restricted access onto the prom - with sections of the walkway shut over the next few weeks to allow the enormous trucks to ferry the material along the seafront.

Some 200,000 cubic metres of sand and shingle weighing tens of thousands of tonnes is being pumped ashore via a 2.1km pipeline.

The work to protect more than 1,600 homes and businesses was initially delayed because of the finding of a 1,000lb war-time bomb on the beach, and then suffered a further setback after bad weather damaged the pipeline and its connections with the booster station.

Environment Agency project manager Andrew Rouse said work was taking place on the sea defences - which involves building 21 new T-shaped rock groynes between the War Memorial and Landguard Common - around the clock.

At high tides there are deliveries of sand and shingle and rock, and at low tides machines are building the breakwaters and spreading the beach material.

For safety reasons, sections of the prom would need to be closed.

There will be full closure from Manor End to Manwick Road, and partial closure from Manwick Road to Holland Road.

The Sea Road car park, toilets, gardens and footpath between the fencing and Sea Road will remain open to the public.

Mr Rouse said the extent and nature of the fencing and other safety measures was constantly being reviewed and further changes and closure may be required.

“Public safety is very important to us and we urge people to follow all safety signs,” he said.

“It is a dangerous area for members of the public and staff at the site have spent a lot of time making sure people are safe instead of being able to work. We would like to get on with the work as quickly as possible so the people of Felixstowe and visitors can enjoy the beach soon.

“Hold-ups cost the taxpayer more money and extend the risk over more months so we are asking people to help us by following the safety guidelines so staff can concentrate on the job. The sooner the work is finished, the sooner we can hand the frontage back to the town.

“Safety signs are erected for people's safety and we would urge people to stay away from work areas and off the four new groynes. These structures are flood defence controls and are not for playing on.”

Will the scheme give Felixstowe the protection it needs? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk