WOOD: Worthing and the cruel sea

THE maritime disaster off the coast and the aftermath impact of the timber cargo being thrown up on our local beaches forcibly reveals, and impresses upon us all, the relentless power of the sea.

We must however thank God that the cargo was not oil, chemicals or noxious substances.

The known fact that the sea action naturally deposits any sufficiently buoyant material high on the beaches is in itself a costly reminder to us that the sea will constantly demand more space '“ a factor now dramatically enhanced by the very real threat of global warming.

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Way back in July, 1971, as structural engineer to the borough of Worthing, I suggested in a report to the then incumbent borough engineer that the annual seaweed problem could well be eradicated by an extensive reclamation of the foreshore to specific profile and levels, albeit at national rather than purely local authority cost.

This suggestion was dismissed and rejected without ceremony and as a serving officer of the council I was virtually prohibited from pursuing the idea further.

However, a close friend (Derek Cressy) was so taken with the possibilities that he wrote to the editor of the Worthing Herald about the essence of my report and this letter was published.

In May, 1987, a consultant was appointed by Worthing to investigate and advise on a possible solution to the seaweed problem.

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Surprisingly, the primary solution presented by the consultant was to "reclaim the foreshore to appropriate profile and levels".

The consultant should have been fully informed as to what solutions or suggestions had previously been made and either tried or rejected. As it was, of course, it was a sheer waste of a considerable sum of ratepayers' money.

I am still convinced that the answer to Worthing's environmental problems, which are extremely likely to worsen, lies in the reclamation of the foreshore.

It is also logical to consider that every cubic metre of material dredged from the sea bed and deposited to raise the land mass will ostensibly result in two cubic metres of space becoming available for the sea to expand.

J W F Hall, C. Eng.,

M.I. Struct. E.

Leeward Road

Worthing