Beach recycling to take place at Hunstanton and Heacham next month
Flood defences along a vulnerable stretch of coastline are to be shored up through improvement works.
Engineers are to carry out ‘beach recycling’ between Hunstanton and Heacham next month over a distance of about five miles.
It could take up to five weeks to complete the annual work, which is being carried out at this time of year to avoid disturbing nesting birds.
Bulldozers will be used to scoop up sand and shingle that gets washed down to Snettisham Scalp over time.
The material is then taken by lorry back to Heacham and Hunstanton where the bank has been eroded due to winter storms.
The flood defence improvements will help protect homes and businesses along the low-lying coastline, which is vulnerable to erosion.
It follows an announcement last year that a beach recharge – when shingle is brought in from elsewhere to help replace material washed away by winter storms – is no longer viable because it would cost between £5 and £8 million.
It led to discussions that proposed putting extra measures in place to protect the shingle ridge from being damaged, including stopping people and dogs from walking along it.