Urgent repairs to beach wall

From the archive, first published Sunday 15th Apr 2007.

ACTION has been pledged by Southend Council to repair an overhanging wall described as a danger to the public.

Erosion of Shoebury East Beach has led to sections of the underlying brick becoming exposed.

This has resulted in an overhanging wall on top of a crumbling wall which, although it has been fenced off on the land side, is still open on the beach.

Anne Chalk, a retired teacher of High Street, Shoebury and would-be Labour councillor for Shoebury, said: "The sea is coming up and eroding the area so quickly and it is only a matter of time before someone hurts themselves.

"The main danger is people are sitting on the beach and the bricks are coming out from the wall."

Andy Lewis, corporate director of enterprise, tourism and the environment, said: "We are aware of it and we will be wanting to repair it as soon as possible and certainly in time for the summer season."