Posted on January 30, 2023
Part of a beach has been closed after a riverbank nearby has sustained “unrepairable” damage.
During planned dredging of the entrance of Littlehampton Harbour part of the wall on the west bank of the river sustained significant damage.
Further investigations are planned but there is a risk the structure could fail.
Littlehampton Harbour Board and Arun District Council have decided that until further notice, part of Littlehampton’s West Beach at them mouth of the River Arun will be closed.
The groups have agreed that the only public access to or from West Beach from the car park must be via the boardwalk through specified dunes.
They say the decision has been taken “for safety reasons”.
The Harbour Board has been in the process of securing funding and various consents required to replace a 40-metre length of the 1920s wall with a brand new one.
The part of the West Beach adjacent to the river will remain closed until further notice and most likely throughout the full summer season because the land is retained by a weakened part of the wall.
Some surrounding parts of this area will reopen at the end of this month when all dredged shingle has been removed.
Access to the West Beach car park and café will be available from February until the reinstatement project starts.
