The clear-up from Saturday’s storms which saw bins and benches ripped from their fixings and tonnes of shingle scattered across the seafront is continuing.
Gale force winds combined with a high tide to create 20ft waves which crashed over the esplanade, dumping tonnes of pebbles.
New recycling bins and benches were ripped away from their fixings and some beach huts were destroyed.
Seafront Operations Manager Chris Ingall said: “The wind strength was really extreme, the strongest we have witnessed for many years. Coupled with the exceptionally large waves, the seafront took a battering.
“The fact we had no major incidents has a lot to do with the team being out and about on the quad bikes engaging with the public to prevent anyone getting too close to the seafront.”
A team will now begin working on the worst affected area from the King Alfred Leisure Centre to Hove Lawns, and we’re asking for everyone’s patience.
The damage on the seafront included:
- 25 of the new recycling bins ripped from their fixings
- Tonnes of beach pebbles pushed up onto the promenade
- Three beach huts damaged
- Benches torn from the tarmac and blown along the prom
- The Palace Pier closed as staff reported the structure was shaking and water was forcing its way through the boards.
Despite the relentless rain, most seafront properties escaped serious flooding, although businesses in and around the Palace Pier are believed to have suffered damage.
The Cityclean, Highways and Seafront teams worked throughout the weekend to ensure it was ‘business as usual’, as much as possible.
The Seafront team spent Saturday:
- patrolling the seafront warning people of getting too near to the shoreline
- cordoning off dangerous areas
- making safe items, like upturned bins, that could have caused the public harm.
However, the weather was so bad the team was unable to put out danger warnings signage and flags due to the wind strength and horizontal rain.
well done too all