Council defends rock groynes scheme after safety fears raised

Blackpool Council has responded to concerns over the safety of proposed rock groynes for Blackpool beach – and insists they are the best option to safeguard the resort’s famous golden sands.

It comes after a Blackpool councillor, Cllr Gerard Walsh, questioned if the rocky structures were safe after highlighting a number of instances in which children had become trapped in similar structures elsewhere.

The groynes have been proposed as part of the Blackpool Beach Management Scheme, a multi-million pound coastal protection project led by Blackpool Council and being delivered by international infrastructure group, Balfour Beatty.

A planning application for the massive project has just been submitted to the council.

The project has been called vital, not just for the protection of homes and businesses from flooding but to help prevent the loss of sand from the beach areas.

Cllr Walsh, who owns holiday accommodation in the resort and expects many visitors each year, said: “It is a major worry for me because children are going to be drawn to those rocky structures and will want to climb on them.

“If there weren’t incoming tides involved it wouldn’t be too critical but visitors – and even locals – don’t always understand how quickly the sea comes in. What I want to know is whether there could be an alternative – a design made from wood which would be safer.”

But a Blackpool Council spokesperson said: “The rock groynes, planned as part of the Blackpool Beach Management Scheme, are vital for our sea defences and are the most effective way to prevent coastal erosion.

“Once installed, members of the public should not climb on the rocks, and clear signage will be in place.

“Engineers considered a wide range of options before finalising the design. While timber groynes have been used in the past, they were largely ineffective at retaining the beach, had a limited lifespan, and created deep scour channels adjacent to them, which filled with pools of water.

“Rock groynes work much better – they last longer and trap sand effectively, reducing the impact of wave energy and scour.

“Adding new sand to the beach was also considered. However, without groynes in place to hold sand on the beach, most of it would be rapidly washed away by the tide.”We are committed to improving beach safety and we hope to work with local partners to build on this.

“The Blackpool Beach Management Scheme is essential for protecting 6,709 households and businesses from erosion and flooding, and to help preserve the beach for generations to come. Sand levels are falling significantly and without urgent action, the beach could be lost forever.”