A STRETCH of Felixstowe prom which started to collapse could be re-opened to the public by this weekend, it was revealed today.

A STRETCH of Felixstowe prom which started to collapse could be re-opened to the public by this weekend, it was revealed today.

Repairs are taking place to the walkway between Manwick Road and Manor Road and steps will be built to allow people safe access on to the beach over the huge rocks which have been used as a temporary measure to protect the sea wall.

The prom has been shut for six weeks after erosion allowed the sea to get beneath the wall and suck out material from behind it, causing cracks and holes to appear.

Suffolk Coastal District Council is still trying to persuade the government to give it £5million towards constructing permanent defences.

The council's deputy leader Andy Smith said the emergency work to place 3,000 tonnes of rocks along a 400metre stretch of shore was now complete.

He said: “Ipswich-based contractors Brooks and Wood have done a really good job in trying circumstances, making the most of the short-time periods allowed at low tides, to get this vital task completed of putting up temporary protection for the sea wall.

“Teams have started to repair the damage to the promenade which collapsed in many places and had a series of bad cracks in it as a result of the supporting materials underneath seeping out through the broken sea wall.

“By the end of the week the promenade should be back to normal, and this whole stretch will once again be completely open to the public and we will be able to remove the barriers that run along that length.

“As the summer seems to be returning with a vengeance, Felixstowe will start looking nearer its best.

“We are also at the moment getting some new timber steps designed which I expect to be in place in a couple of weeks. These will give people safe access to the beach over the piles of rocks that we have had to use to shore up the sea wall.

“Clearly these rocks are there to serve a purpose and are not a playground so I would ask people to please not attempt to climb over them.

“However we do want to encourage as many people to still use our beach and enjoy the seaside experience, and these steps that will act as bridges over the rocks down to the beach.”

The work, plus measures taking place at Cobbold's Point, has cost about £400,000.

WEBLINK: www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk