Southsea Coastal Scheme reveal their construction plans for this summer
It was revealed in an exhibition held last weekend that work will begin between The Pyramids Center and South Parade Pier in July 2023.
Southsea Coastal Scheme held a public exhibition last weekend to reveal the next phase of their plans for Southseas’ beaches.
Communications Lead at Southsea Coastal Scheme, Justine Brown, 49, said that: “The exhibition is about giving the public an opportunity to speak to our specialist team who can show them what will be happening this summer and in the future.”
The proposed work for this summer includes a beach replenishment scheme, where the existing beach between Pyramids and the pier will be widened using imported sand. The promenade will be raised by 1m and cycle lanes added to avoid overcrowding.
Research by The University of Manchester suggests that Portsmouth South is the 13th most at risk constituency of severe flooding. Justine said that: “our aim is to reduce the risk of flooding to more than 10,000 homes and 700 businesses.”
However, many Southsea residents have raised complaints about the construction, and there have been questions asked about how existing businesses will survive. Emma Wing, 27, from Southsea said: “it’s not fair that businesses might have to suffer because of all the building work.”
When asked about how businesses will be affected, Lead Designer Robin Ward, 32, stated that “We are trying to make space for permanent businesses all the way along the seafront and before the scheme there was no opportunity for that. There will still be room for the businesses that are already there. We want to make Portsmouth more attractive to tourists, and local businesses are a really important part of that.”
