Trevor Bright has also been concerned about the state of the beach.\u00a0 He sent me an email last week which I have reproduced below.\u00a0 Trevor’s experience seems especially relevant – in his own words:<\/p>\n
“Whilst I was working for BP within their Engineering department as a Project Engineer the main part of my job was supervision of Contractors\/Consultants involved in the Design of offshore North Sea oil platforms and construction of onshore refinery plant. My involvement was from prequalification\/tendering to contract completion. I realise therefore how important it is to specify to MMD exactly what it is that is wanted from them. It is also important whilst the contract is ongoing to be in a position to question them at a technical level. After all they are a contractor and the report they produce must provide answers not more questions that will require another study<\/em>.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Trevor sent me this email before I posted my account of my meeting with Mott MacDonald and TDC<\/a>. When he had a chance to read that post he wrote<\/p>\n I have read the latest post to your blog but I am still interested to know what Mott MacDonald’s brief is. I thought it was to produce a study with recommendations and possible solutions. It would then be for those funding the construction work and future maintenance to make the decision of which solution to adopt.<\/em><\/p>\n So it is not just me who would like more openess with regard to<\/p>\n In particular given all of Tendring Coast from Naze to Seawick runs approximately north-east to south-west (yes I know there are changes of around 30°) why is the state of the beach so different at Holland-on-Sea.\u00a0 And if the lack of repair to groynes is irrelevant can we have copies of documentary evidence which show what the cause is.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Trevor Bright has also been concerned about the state of the beach.\u00a0 He sent me an email last week which I have reproduced below.\u00a0 Trevor’s experience seems especially relevant – in his own words: “Whilst I was working for BP … Continue reading Dear Jeremy,\r\n\r\nI am concerned on how the Council will specify to Mott MacDonald (MMD)\r\nwhat it is that MMD are to study and report on. We do not want MMD\r\nto just issue the Felixstowe report re-branded for Clacton\/Holland.\u00a0 \r\n\r\nI am interested to know who will be involved with the preparation of\r\nthe Contract Specification as does the Council department responsible\r\nhave the necessary experience in producing this type of detailed\r\nspecification for MMD?\r\n\r\nThe reason behind my concern is that the recent works at the bottom of\r\nCliff Road failed to include within the scope a 50 metre stretch of\r\nstainless steel barrier at the edge of the promenade.\r\nCurrently crowd control barriers are being used.\r\n\r\nThe Council will need to ensure that MMD provide a detailed study with\r\nanswers to questions that have been, or are likely to be raised.\r\nWe do not want to end up with yet another study being necessary in a\r\nyears time because the scope of the MMD report was too restrictive.\r\nTherefore, the Councils specification document would, I should have\r\nthought, need to be circulated for input from any interested parties\r\nalong with a consultation process. Ideally we should end up with a\r\ndocument from MMD that will contain all relevant information regarding\r\nsea defences in the area that will supersede any other documents.\r\n\r\nMy thoughts on some items that will need to be included\r\nin a study by MMD.\r\n\r\n1) The history of sea defences from Clacton pier to the Gunfleet Boating\r\n \u00a0Club since the War to the present day\r\n\r\n\u00a0 (This section will be provided by the Council to MMD as background\r\n information)\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0 - the construction of the concrete breakwaters and promenade\r\n including cliff face stabilisation (including costs if possible)\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 - recharging of the beaches with sand\r\n (when carried out, volumes and costs)\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 - recent works, rocks against the sea wall\r\n (when, volumes and costs)\r\n\r\n2) Summary of what is causing the loss of beach from the\r\n Gunfleet Boating Club to Clacton Pier\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 - tidal currents running North East and South West\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 - has the lack of maintenance to breakwaters created a\r\n snowball effect on the loss of beach?\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 - if the breakwaters had been maintained\r\n what would have been the cost?\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 - what state would the beach be in if the breakwaters had been\r\n maintained?\r\n\r\n3) What if we do nothing\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 - scope of work to just keep the beaches safe\r\n\r\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 . removal of dangerous concrete breakwaters\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 . placing of rocks against the sea wall to protect it where\r\n the beaches become particularly low.\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 . will there be a possibility of promenade collapse or\r\n cliff slippage?\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 . will beach re-charge become necessary at some point?\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 - a per year cost estimate in keeping the beaches safe\r\n (this naturally will not include hidden costs such\r\n as the loss of revenue by local businesses and cafes due to\r\n lack of access to the beaches and therefore the reduction\r\n in the number of tourists).\r\n\r\n4) Proposals for sea defence\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 - details of various solutions along with costs\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 . repair \/ replace existing breakwaters\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 . fishtail groynes\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 . offshore rock reefs\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 . any other suggestions.\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 - include details and costs associated with removing the\r\n \u00a0existing breakwaters if required\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 - include details of any beach re-charge that may be necessary\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 - can any of the solutions be carried out in a phased manner\r\n \u00a0 (i.e. build a fishtail groyne at the Gunfleet Boating Club and\r\n \u00a0then one at Eastcliff to deflect the long shore current and then\r\n \u00a0work on the area between these)\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 - ongoing maintenance costs of the proposed solutions\r\n\r\n5) Recommendations\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 - details and costings for a recommended solution\r\n\r\n6) Reference Documents\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 - supporting documentation provided by the Council and used by\r\n MMD in the preparation of the report\r\n\r\nNo doubt with your experience you have some others things that will need\r\nto be addressed by MMD.\r\n\r\nBest Regards\r\n\r\nTrevor<\/pre>\n
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