FELIXSTOWE has a new tourist attraction - emergency work to stop its gardens, amusements and funfair falling into the sea.The work to shore up the sea defences and prom is bringing in hundreds of extra visitors to the resort, not to use the usual attractions - but keen to see the damage to the prom and the huge grabbers placing rocks on the beach.

FELIXSTOWE has a new tourist attraction - emergency work to stop its gardens, amusements and funfair falling into the sea.

The work to shore up the sea defences and prom is bringing in hundreds of extra visitors to the resort, not to use the usual attractions - but keen to see the damage to the prom and the huge grabbers placing rocks on the beach.

But some are too keen and are clambering through safety fencing to get a closer look.

Today council officials pleaded with people to keep behind the barriers.

“I can understand that this has become a bit of a tourist attraction because of the great interest in exactly what is happening, but I would ask everyone to please use their common sense and stay behind the safety barriers,” said cabinet member Andy Smith.

“The barriers are there to both keep people a safe distance away from the crumbling part of the promenade and also to give our contractors enough room to carry out their vital emergency works safely, and as quickly as possible.

“On Sunday crowds broke through the fencing for a better view and our contractors had to waste valuable time getting them out and making the area safe again, as well as contacting the police.”

Time was also lost rescuing cones removed from the prom and thrown onto the beach, while the crowds had also trampled down the garden next to the prom.

Mr Smith said: “Over the next fortnight or so, around 2,750 tonnes of rocks are going to be delivered to an area by the Martello Tower and then used to provide some temporary support for a 400 metre stretch of the sea wall.

“This work means that the dumper trucks need to travel up and down the prom, without the fear that people might come over a fence into a cordoned off area.

“Please respect the safety fencing and keep to those areas that are there for the public so we can get on with the works as quickly as possible.”

The council is continuing to hold talks with government officials over its request for £5 million funding new defences to protect south Felixstowe.

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