Closure of Littlehampton’s West Beach at mouth of River Arun explained
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During ‘planned dredging of the entrance’ of Littlehampton Harbour, part of the wall on the west bank of the river has ‘sustained significant damage that is not repairable’.
Littlehampton Harbour, in a statement on social media, said: “Further investigations are planned but there is now an increased risk the structure could fail.
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Hide Ad“Until further notice, Arun District Council and Littlehampton Harbour Board have agreed the only public access to or from West Beach from the car park must be via the boardwalk through the dunes marked in green.This decision has been taken for safety reasons.”
Use of the river by boats can continue in line with the guidance in the local notice to mariners published by the harbour master today. The harbor said all boat users ‘must read and understand’ the guidance ‘in order to use the harbour entrance safely’.
A spokesperson added: “The harbour board have for some time been in the process of securing funding and various consents required to replace a 40-meter length of this 1920s wall with a brand-new wall. Initial agreements for funding were already in place to undertake these works in Autumn 2023.
"Much of the underway design and consents work is still to be done in order to start this major project but reinstatement is now considered as emergency work to be completed as soon as possible.
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Hide Ad“The red area on the plan will remain closed until further notice and most likely throughout the full summer season because the land here is retained by the weakened part of the wall in blue. The yellow area is expected to be reopened at the end of January when all dredged shingle has been removed.”
The harbour concluded by saying that access to the whole of West Beach Car Park and West Beach Café will be available from February #until the reinstatement project starts’.