Just a quick update...

The project to repair the overflow pipeline at Rocky Beach and encase it in concrete, was due for completion by Easter 2016. But the contractors undertaking the work got a bit behind schedule because the weather was really lousy. They stopped for Easter so as not to have Rocky Beach closed for the Easter break and then came back in mid-April to finish it off.

Overall, it seems they have done a very good job, including closing off the unconsented overflow at the top of the slipway, and putting a metal handrail on the slipway itself, as we had requested. There are some tiny snagging jobs where some of the reinforcing bar is exposed, which will be brought to the attention of South West Water to ensure they are rectified.

Looking to the future it will no doubt be good to keep a watchful eye on the pipeline and make sure it gets properly maintained this time and doesn't fall into a state of disrepair. 

Work has finally begun on restoring the concrete casing that protects the pipeline...

 Its been a while since the last post, but there's some good news to report - work is now underway to complete the last stages of the repairs to the Rocky Beach overflow pipeline. South West Water's contractors, Kier Services, are partway through a 9-week long project to make good the concrete casing that protects the pipeline from rough seas.

You may recall that last June, following the enormous response to the Environment Agency's Public Consultation, South West Water withdrew its application to shorten the overflow pipeline that runs across Rocky Beach from the pumping station in the car park.

After the repairs to the iron pipe had been carried out, work still needed to be done to replace the concrete that encases the pipeline, in order to protect it from damage in rough seas. South West Water applied to the Marine Management Organisation for the necessary licence to undertake the work on the beach, and this was granted in October 2015. Originally scheduled for completion by the end of 2015, the project was delayed somewhat, but is now due to be completed before Easter.

The Kier construction team were down there today (image above), hard at work applying a quick-setting mix, which they told me sets hard enough to walk on in minutes. In the photo below the man on the left is applying the stuff through a high-pressure pipe that runs back to a mixing plant on the footpath. All being well and good the main objective, of protecting the encased pipeline, will be achieved.