Storm Goretti: Update from Folkestone & Hythe District Council
Storm Goretti hit the district overnight, with the weather and impact certainly being much worse than had been expected / forecast.
The Folkestone and Hythe District council team have now had a chance to assess the damage caused by Storm Goretti. Officers have walked the stretch of coastline from Folkestone to Hythe and visited other beaches in the more western parts of the district.
The worst damage has occurred between Folkestone and Sandgate.
The A259 Sandgate Esplanade is currently closed to traffic in both directions. We have been liaising closely with the KCC teams regarding works to reopen the A259 but this may take a couple of days.
Damage / issues that we are aware of:
- Folkestone beach huts – no’s 110 – 120 all shifted. 102-106 flooded and damaged. 2 huts missing altogether. (beach hut tenants notified)
- Mermaid Beach Breakwater – severely damaged, reported to Environment Agency
- Shingle all over promenade between Folkestone & Hythe
- A259 closed due to shingle all over Road and damaged / displaced vehicles
- Castle Road Car Park – covered in shingle
- Granville Parade - covered in shingle
- Damage to various seawalls through Sandgate to Hythe
- Some damage to Sunny Sands / Coronation Parade railings and tarmac (relatively minor)
- Princes Parade – new steps / ramp severely damaged
- Multiple missing memorial benches
Actions in place:
- Contractors on site with diggers, dumpers, telehandlers
- Diggers clearing back of sea wall first to allow water to drain from road
- Telehandler re-siting beach huts where possible
- Machines starting to clear shingle from promenades
- KCC contractors starting to clear A259 and other affected roads
- Battery Point Car Park (Seabrook) is being used by KCC to move / stockpile shingle from the road. F&HDC contractors will move it from here back to the beach speeding the process up
- Surveys being undertaken of damaged assets
The beach replenishment programme has certainly done its job. Whilst a lot of the shingle has gone from the beach, we have had no reports of any damage to properties or any flooding. We have also received no reports of any injuries or harm to any residents.
Pictures of Storm Goretti Damage to seafront, courtesy of FHDC
