Wyre Council is replacing two kilometres of sea defences, from Rossall Hospital to Rossall Point, in a £63m coastal defence scheme that will protect 7,500 properties from the risk of flooding.



Work is now nearing completion with the formal opening of the scheme planned for spring 2018.

Carl Green, Head of Engineering at Wyre Council, explains where the project is up to: “We have reached an important milestone where all the beach works are now complete. This includes the rock revetment, rock groynes, cross over ramps and all the beach access steps through the rock revetment.

“We are currently finishing off the last of the pre-cast stepped revetment where we previously had a temporary access ramp. The final parts of the curved sea wall are going in here to close the gap. There was also a temporary access route through the rear sea wall which has now been removed and pre-cast rear wall units are being installed.

“Work now continues on the concrete promenade and we are still aiming to complete the works in spring, provided the weather stays on our side.”

Work is also moving at a pace to create the Larkholme Grasslands ecology park on the landward side of the defences, designed by Stephen Broadbent, a British sculptor who specialises in public art. The strip of grassland, from West Way to Fairway, is already classed as a Biological Heritage Site because of the rarer species of flora and fauna that grow there. The area will be enhanced to allow residents to enjoy the rich and diverse wildlife.

Wyre Council has been working with three local artists Adele Robinson, Linda Hampton and Julia Swarbrick, who ran drama, creative writing and visual arts workshops in the autumn of 2017 at Larkholme Primary school with the year 4 children to create poems, stories and artwork to bring the Larkholme Grasslands to life.

The ideas from these workshops will shape designs that will be embedded into the fabric of the landscape and will help tie the project into the Mythic Coastline, which starts from Cleveleys.

Roger Berry, Neighbourhood Services and Community Safety Portfolio Holder at Wyre Council comments: “This project has been such an important one for Wyre. We know that ultimately our residents simply want to feel safe and this scheme will help to protect thousands of homes, business and the local community from the risk of flooding.

“I am looking forward to seeing the vision for Larkholme Grasslands come to life and we will be encouraging local residents to become custodians of the area. It is hoped the Grasslands will be a place of enjoyment and discovery particularly for our schoolchildren because of the unique species that will grow within it.”

We are now in the final months of the Rossall Coastal Defence Scheme, a 4 year £64 million construction programme to replace 2km of sea defences between West Way and Rossall Point.

The original intention was to split the scheme opening with the promenade to be opened earlier than the full scheme scheduled for spring 2018. Following a recent meeting of the project board a decision has been made not to split the opening. This will allow the whole scheme to be opened earlier than anticipated and resolves a number of safety concerns associated with partial opening of the scheme.

We appreciate your disappointment at not being able to access the promenade until later than planned but we will endeavor to complete the works as soon as possible. Over the coming months you will notice a scaling back of accommodation including the site meeting room used for public open mornings, however other suitable arrangements for these events will be made.



For more information visit www.fyldecoastalprogramme.co.uk