Harbours Advisory Committee

15 March 2023

Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Engineering Update

For Review and Consultation

Portfolio Holder:	Cllr R Bryan, Highways, Travel and Environment

Local Councillor(s):	All Councillors

Executive Director:	J Sellgren, Executive Director of Place

Report Author: Matthew Penny

Title:	Service Manager Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management

Tel:	01305 252290

Email:	matthew.penny@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Report Status: Public

Brief Summary:

The purpose of this report is to provide an update and consult with Harbours Committee on the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) engineering activities being undertaken within all three Dorset Council Harbours.

Recommendation:

Review report and comment upon progress of current activities.

Reason for Recommendation:

Update and consult with Harbours Advisory Committee.

Report

Lyme Regis Harbour

Dredging

The Coastal Risk Management team has gone out on tender and was successful in appointing contractors, for both the dredging and the beach earthworks. The contracts are finalised and in the process of being signed by all the parties.

Weather permitting, work is scheduled to commence on 27 February and will be completed on 24 March.

Inspections

The Coastal Risk Team undertakes annual, scheduled, routine asset	inspections of Lyme Regis harbour. Inspections were completed in

November 2022. Next round of inspections due Summer 2023.

Repairs

We are continuing to monitor The Cobb structure and repair the surface, as necessary.

A keystone block was dislodged by a fishing vessel incident at the Victoria Pier steps in Feb 23. Repair is currently in progress.

Lyme Regis Environmental Improvement Scheme Phase 5

The next stage of the project (pre-construction) is underway and includes engagement with the public, stakeholders and commercial users, as well as final design and licensing applications. Discussions with statutory consultees such as Historic England, Natural England and the Marine Management Organisation have been organised.

A notice of future works has been submitted to the local newspaper; no comments have been noted from the notice.

Construction is proposed to commence in 2024. We will continue to monitor and carry out repairs to The Cobb in the meantime.

Key Milestones:

Task	Programme
Stakeholder engagement	Ongoing
Design Development	Winter 2022 – Spring 2023
Permits and Licences determination	Spring – Winter 2023
Proposed Construction start	Summer 2024

1.2	West Bay Harbour

Dredging

The Coastal Risk Management team has gone out to tender and was successful in appointing a contractor for the work. The contracts are finalised and in the process of being signed by all the parties. Weather permitting, work is scheduled to commence on 24 March and is proposed to be completed prior to Easter. However, we have made contractual provision for additional time, should it be required, up until 21 April.

Major delays were experienced in the licensing approval process, and the issue date has been postponed several times. The Coastal Risk Team is in constant contact with the MMO throughout and all indications from the regulator is that the license will be issued in time for the commencement of the actual work.

Inspections

The Coastal Risk Team undertake annual, scheduled, routine asset inspections of West Bay Harbour. Inspections were completed in October 2023; next round of inspections are due in summer 2023.

Repairs

No repairs of note but we continue to monitor harbour structures.

Harbour Wall B Stabilisation & Repair

Following accelerated movement flagged up in monitoring December 2022, additional ground investigation was completed in early February 2023. Structural engineering consultants are submitting permanent repair options by February 24th, 2023. These options will determine the scope and future milestone dates. Discussions with the conservation team have been organised.

Due to continued signs of movement, we have taken the decision to keep the walkway closed for the foreseeable future as a precautionary measure.

Key Milestones:

Task	Programme
Stakeholder engagement	Ongoing
Design Development	TBC
Permits and Licences determination	TBC
Proposed Construction start	TBC

Weymouth Harbour

Dredging

A survey of current harbour depths has been undertaken and analysis is underway to ascertain if dredging is required. No decision has currently been made.

Inspections

The Coastal Risk Team undertake scheduled, routine asset inspections Weymouth Harbour. Inspections were completed by end November 2022; next round of inspections are due Summer 2023.

Weymouth Flood & Coastal Risk Management Scheme Phase 1

The Outline Business Case (OBC) is in the process of being developed and is programmed for completion in late 2024. Optioneering and preliminary design are progressing while flood modelling and engineering surveys are underway. Appointment for Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) was made December 2023. The second round of stakeholder engagements should commence spring 2023, with more engagement events planned in future.

Key Milestones:

Task	Programme
Stakeholder engagement	Ongoing
Permits and Licences determination	Winter 2024 – Autumn 2025
Outline Business Case	Summer 2022 - Autumn 2024
Initial design period	Winter 2024 – Autumn 2025
Proposed Construction start	Winter 2025

Harbour Walls F&G (Peninsula)

Commissioning of a site investigation contractor has been concluded and work should commence on Monday 27 February. A design option study is also underway but is pending input from the site investigation.

Key Milestones:

Task	Programme
Stakeholder engagement	Ongoing
Permits and Licences determination	Summer 2023 - Summer 2024
Design period	Summer 2023
Proposed Construction start	Autumn 2025

Harbour Wall 4 (North Quay)

Commissioning of a site investigation contractor has been concluded and work should commence on Monday 27 February. A design option study is also underway but is pending input from the site investigation.

Key Milestones:

Task	Programme
Stakeholder engagement	Ongoing
Permits and Licences determination	Summer 2023 - Summer 2024
Design period	Summer 2023
Proposed Construction start	Winter 2023

Pleasure Pier

A structural assessment of the Pleasure Pier has been undertaken and it is considered structurally sound for current light pedestrian use, with repairable defects noted. Some of the railings on the pier are in poor condition and the Coastal Risk & Harbour teams are working closely to replace them. The respective railings are currently barriered-off to protect users of the Pleasure Pier.

Weymouth Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) Level 2

Providing the detailed flood risk evidence base for Weymouth in support of the development of the Dorset Local Plan. The work involves modelling all sources of flooding within Weymouth and around the harbour.

Progress has been delayed slightly due to consultant illness, but a draft report has now been issued.

Financial Implications

There are no financial implications arising from this report. All activities described are within allotted budgets.

Climate Implications

The regular maintenance and repair to engineering assets is beneficial to their remaining life expectancy and therefore has a lower impact upon the climate than replacement schemes.

Where future replacement schemes are required, the climate impact will be described in more detail within the cabinet paper for the respective scheme.

Well-being and Health Implications

Repair and renewal of harbour infrastructure aids commercial and recreational activity that is both marine and land based.

Other Implications

The regular maintenance and repair to engineering assets is beneficial to their remaining life expectancy and therefore is a sustainable approach to the management of engineering assets.

Where future replacement schemes are required, the impact upon sustainability will be described in more detail within the committee paper for the respective scheme.

Risk Assessment

HAVING CONSIDERED: the risks associated with this decision; the level of risk has been identified as:

Current Risk: Low

Residual Risk: Low

Equalities Impact Assessment

An EQiA is completed for all relevant engineering work that may impact upon people. Therefore, an EQiA was not completed for this committee paper. This approach was agreed with a council equalities officer.

Appendices

Weymouth Harbour Wall Locations Map

Background Papers

None.