For those of us who remember the dizzying excitement of learning about "longshore drift" and sand-spit formation from our school geography lessons, you might not realise unless you've walked as far west along the beach that Lee-Over-Sands and its geographical parent "Colne Point" features a great example of Sand-Spit formation.
While checking on the current status of our sea defences, I happened to find this interesting DEFRA article written by V.J.May about this changing coastal formation of Colne Point that some residents may find of interest.
One section worried me:
"It has, however, another role as part of the coast protection of the Essex coast. The level of the saltmarsh is higher than the land that lies landwards of the site behind artificial sea defences. The continuing efficacy of the sea defences depends upon the continued presence of the beach and saltmarsh. Unfortunately, the construction of groynes at the northern end of the site has substantially reduced the supply of sediment to the beach, which is now seriously affected by erosion. As a result, not only the natural importance of the site, but also its coast protection role, are threatened. If the sediment supply to the beach is not maintained, there is likely to be a deterioration of the proximal end of the beach, partial destruction of the saltmarshes and the sea-wall would become exposed. In these circumstances, it may prove prudent in the interest of maintaining the scientific interest to allow artificial beach-feeding by materials comparable to those that fed the beach in the past. The volume would need to be controlled so that it simulated the historical sediment transport patterns in magnitude and frequency. The coast protection needs would be furthered by such action. Like many sites on the English coast, the marsh and beach at St Osyth now depend upon human intervention for their future maintenance. The landward boundary is an artificial one (the sea-wall), without which the saltmarsh would by now have migrated well inland."
Click here to read the document in full
To add a more human element to the history of our area, I found out a few years ago that relative of my partner remembers that during the 1960s, Beach road's holiday homes were actually on the beach, rather than behind the large creek as they are now.
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| This wonderful aerial photo is by Terry Joyce, looking from Point Clear, the sandpit can be seen curling round at the mouth of the Creek, opposite the Beach Cafe. |
While checking on the current status of our sea defences, I happened to find this interesting DEFRA article written by V.J.May about this changing coastal formation of Colne Point that some residents may find of interest.
One section worried me:
"It has, however, another role as part of the coast protection of the Essex coast. The level of the saltmarsh is higher than the land that lies landwards of the site behind artificial sea defences. The continuing efficacy of the sea defences depends upon the continued presence of the beach and saltmarsh. Unfortunately, the construction of groynes at the northern end of the site has substantially reduced the supply of sediment to the beach, which is now seriously affected by erosion. As a result, not only the natural importance of the site, but also its coast protection role, are threatened. If the sediment supply to the beach is not maintained, there is likely to be a deterioration of the proximal end of the beach, partial destruction of the saltmarshes and the sea-wall would become exposed. In these circumstances, it may prove prudent in the interest of maintaining the scientific interest to allow artificial beach-feeding by materials comparable to those that fed the beach in the past. The volume would need to be controlled so that it simulated the historical sediment transport patterns in magnitude and frequency. The coast protection needs would be furthered by such action. Like many sites on the English coast, the marsh and beach at St Osyth now depend upon human intervention for their future maintenance. The landward boundary is an artificial one (the sea-wall), without which the saltmarsh would by now have migrated well inland."
Click here to read the document in full
To add a more human element to the history of our area, I found out a few years ago that relative of my partner remembers that during the 1960s, Beach road's holiday homes were actually on the beach, rather than behind the large creek as they are now.
Hello, I just discovered this blog. Family friends used to own one of the bungalows on Beech Road. I spent my childhood in and around the properties from the early 1970s until approximately 1982ish (I am now 43).
ReplyDeleteIt was a great place to come down from London for weekends or weeks during school holidays and I have fantastic memories of walking across the creeks from the property to the sea wall.
About 7 or 8 years ago we stayed in Clacton and we walked the sea wall to Beech Road and it brought back so many memories as I hadn't been back there since the early 80s. The big concrete blocks that we used to jump between, the bungalow stilts of a property that was no longer there (it burnt down in the mid-70s and I remember getting told off for picking off the burnt wood!
One thing I was surprised at was the size of the creek between the bungalows and the sand banks. I don't remember being able to walk across but the sand in front of the bungalows but the creek was a lot bigger than when I was a kid. I also remember going across to the sand bank and putting cockle lines down, we'd then go back the next day and then boil them up! I do remember that we'd go back some years and the whole area had changed due to shifting sand but that was just part of the enjoyment.
I also remember that you could still see railway tracks on the sand banks (are they still there?) and if you went along Ray Creek you could still see the wooden structure of what we were told was also part of the railway.
I thought you'd like to know that the road hadn't changed as it was extremely bumpy with many potholes 35 years ago, thank goodness we had a Land Rover so it was nice to see that you were trying to fill in the worst of them.
Best regards
D Morris