West Norfolk Council seeks experts to investigate condition of Hunstanton’s sea defences

A council is to investigate the condition of its sea defences that protect one of the county’s biggest coastal resorts.

West Norfolk Council is currently seeking experts in the field to conduct the explorations at Hunstanton.

It has put out a notice offering a contract for the work, which could pay out as much as £500,000.

The advertisement states the council is looking for someone to conduct geotechnical investigations to produce a report of the findings of the investigations.

This will then help inform the council of the condition of the sea defences and whether any maintenance work is needed in the future.

It comes as sea defences along this stretch of coastline continue to be scrutinised after the shingle ridge – which protects homes between south of Hunstanton and eight miles further along down to Wolferton – is believed to have shifted.

The Environment Agency, which manages the shingle ridge, is currently conducting these investigations which will then identify if a “trigger point” has been reached which may result in a review of the approach to how it manages the defences.

The results of this are expected by the spring.