Strong winds, torrential rain and overtopping waves fortunately failed to cause flooding in Swanage as the newly installed temporary concrete blocks stood up to the bad weather, however debris was left to litter part of the seafront.
While not a named storm by the Met Office, the wild weather overnight from Sunday 29th through to the morning of Monday 30th September 2024 was the first stormy conditions of autumn to test the newly reconfigured flood prevention barrier along the lower High Street.
Double strength temporary blocks have been put in place for winter 2024 / 2025 however construction should start on a permanent flood defence by the end of 2025
Coastguard requested road closure
Following Storm Ciarán in November 2023 which moved the concrete blocks across the road, the Environment Agency decided to install the blocks in a double row to make them more robust near the Gee Whites cafe but it wasn’t possible to do this further along the narrow pavement.
As the weather conditions worsened on Sunday evening, Swanage Coastguard contacted Swanage Town Council who in turn contacted Dorset Council to ask for the seafront section of the lower High Street to be closed due to the risk of flying debris to people and vehicles.
Sometime after 8 pm road barriers were put in place to close off the street, however by the morning they had been blown over.
The morning after the night before and the debris has been thrown across the road
The pavement awaits the removal of loose rocks, slippery seaweed and sand by Dorset Council, while the road remains closed
Blocks stayed in place
The Environment Agency, whose remit is to prevent businesses and homes from flooding, will be pleased to see the new layout of blocks stay in place as expected.
A greater test is likely to occur over winter 2024 / 2025 if a more powerful named storm hits Swanage.
Not extending the blocks further along the Lower High Street did result in seaweed, stones and sand littering the pavement and road. Dorset Council is responsible for clearing the highway and pavement but has not yet removed the debris.
The yacht’s mast gets close to the windows of the flats
The boat is broken up as the waves smash it against the rocks
Wooden yacht destroyed
Further round Swanage Bay between the sailing club and the lifeboat station, the wooden yacht that had sunk close to the shore after colliding with the old pier on Friday 20th September 2024, was swept towards the rocks by the stormy weather.
The boat owner who had earlier been unable to recover the vessel, watched while the waves broke up the boat and snapped the mast. Perilously close to breaking the windows of The Haven flats, fortunately the only damage was to the yacht.
The half full fuel tank broke but the diesel was quickly dispersed by the wave action. By the morning, the owner had salvaged what he could from the sea, ready to be removed later in the week.
In the morning the owner salvaged what he could of his boat
