Suttle Projects is about to commence its part in a prestigious project to protect Bournemouth’s coastline.
The specialist piling company, based at Sterte Avenue West, Poole, will be acting as primary contractor as it extracts 12 old groynes and installs 12 new ones over the next two years at the Southbourne end of Bournemouth Beach, near Boscombe Pier. The works started on Monday November 6th.
Six of the groynes, which will be built using two different species of tropical hard wood, will be removed and replaced this winter, and another six will be removed and replaced in winter 2018.
Suttle Projects has been awarded the two-year contract to carry out the works by Bournemouth Borough Council, and will use and deploy its own piling equipment on the beach, including two Movax SG75 side-grip pile drivers.
The project forms part of a 17-year programme of work under the Bournemouth Beach Management Scheme, a long-term investment package of works to provide protection against coastal erosion through the replacement of 53 existing groynes and carrying out periodic beach replenishment until 2032.
Director, Alistair Maidman, said: “It was a very open and competitive bidding environment, so it was quite challenging to secure the works, but we have relished the challenge, and capitalised on our geographical location in comparison to our competitors. We look forward to successful delivery of the project.”
Director, Liam Tucker, said: “Bournemouth Beach groynes allows us to demonstrate our capabilities and use of in-house piling equipment for this installation, as well as a strong supply chain to assist in delivering these results. It’s a great opportunity for the company to demonstrate its expertise in the field of coastal defence.”