DOC has just received a further progress report  from the EA on both the Broomhill Scheme and  the general Folkestone to Cliff End Strategy  which reads as follows:-

Broomhill Scheme

We have recently held two meetings with community representatives to seek ideas and views on the scheme. The Interest Group workshop has allowed us to capture community knowledge, ideas and concerns. The Design Board meeting was planned to ensure that the scheme is safe, practical and maintainable and that opportunities to add value are realised. Membership of both forums was agreed at a meeting with Rother District Council (RDC), East Sussex County Council (ESCC), Camber Visitor Management Initiative (CVMI) and Defend our Coast (DoC) in January 2009.

The scheme is still in the data collection phase so initial design concepts are very much a ‘work in progress’. Holding these meetings early in the process means that the community has been able to provide information that will help to shape the design and layout of the scheme. It also allows more time to investigate options to fund suggestions for added value elements of the scheme. We plan to meet again when we have worked up the draft outline design.

We commissioned a desk study to assess the risk of encountering unexploded ordnance during scheme construction and site investigations. The report has concluded that the risk is low but has recommended follow-on actions.

Survey work to locate and identify buried services within the scheme area started on the 18th May. This information will be used to assist with project costing and to reduce health and safety risks during penetrative ground investigation and construction works.

We have recently exposed the buried concrete revetment to the west of the car park to verify the dimensions. We have also uncovered a groyne pile which has confirmed that we should be able to reuse the timber elsewhere in the scheme, for example, along the back face of the defence.

We are also finalising the approach for Ground Investigations. This work to inform our designs is planned for late summer/early autumn.

Folkestone to Cliff End Strategy

Defra are still reviewing the Habitat Regulation Assessment element of the strategy and it has not yet been agreed whether this will need to be approved by Ministers.

We have received proposals to deliver the Lydd Ranges, Hythe Ranges, Greatstone and River Rother East Bank schemes from three alliances. The proposals include plans to produce the business case and suggestions for delivering the schemes in order to gain maximum efficiencies.  We are currently clarifying various issues and hope to announce the preferred alliance shortly.