8 December 2010
Shoreham Port are aiming to bring the part of the harbour known as the Pump House Gut into use by installing a steel sheet pile quay wall between the South Lock Island and the Pump House and backfilling behind it to create new land for workshops and storage.
The construction site borders the public footpath from the locks to Southwick Beach and members of the public are asked to take particular care when using the footpath across the locks as there will be a temporary increase in heavy plant and equipment movements. The work will create some noise and vibration but these will be kept to an absolute minimum and both will be closely monitored to ensure there is the minimal possible adverse effect on the port infrastructure, our neighbours and the general public.
There will be regular lifting operations and deliveries in the area to the south of the Prince Philip Lock during the works and there will be brief periods when access is restricted, so we would politely ask everyone to be patient.
Installation of the steel sheet pile wall will begin on 6th December and the piling works are expected to be complete by Christmas. The material to be used to backfill behind the wall is to be chalk arising from the new long sea outfall tunnelling works at Friar's Bay east of Brighton. Using the chalk as fill reduces the need to use newly dredged material as fill as well as reducing the need to find landfill space for the chalk. Placement of the chalk will take place in the New Year as the material becomes available from the tunnelling works.
"The works will all be carefully managed by our contractor JT Mackley and closely supervised by the Port's own Engineering Team, "says Port Engineer, Tony Parker, "and in the longer term, this work will allow the Port the opportunity to improve public access to Southwick Beach from the locks".
