EMERGENCY work is being carried out to protect part of Felixstowe seafront where experts have warned that sea defences could fail at any time.Contractors are putting rock in place and repairing some of the groynes to keep the southern part of the resort safe from winter's storms.

EMERGENCY work is being carried out to protect part of Felixstowe seafront where experts have warned that sea defences could fail at any time.

Contractors are putting rock in place and repairing some of the groynes to keep the southern part of the resort safe from winter's storms.

The work is costing around £150,000 and should last until research takes place into a long-term solution.

That is likely to cost about £4.5 million and involve either new breakwaters, offshore reefs or massive fishtail groynes, and will need to be done in the three to four years.

Part of the area of concern is right alongside the officially-designated flood plain known as the south seafront, where Suffolk Coastal council wants to build 188 homes and leisure attractions.

The sea defence work includes placing huge rocks at the Manor End ramp, where the sea wall is deteriorating and beach levels are very low.

Underpinning is also being done on strategic groynes, and more rocks will be stockpiled nearby to be rushed to the scene of any breach in the defences.

Some groynes have been undermined and toppled over, and extremely high tides have occasionally overtopped defences or flooded the seafront gardens, or damaged the prom or left it deep in sand and shingle.

Beach levels are being constantly monitored, and talks are being held with the Environment Agency, responsible for the area from Manor End to Landguard, as it is concerned about its front-line defences.

On Thursday February 13 and Friday February 14 from 2pm to 7pm residents will be able to give their views on future sea defences for the resort at an exhibition at Felixstowe Leisure Centre.

WEBLINK: www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk