The much cherished steps down to the beach at the north end of Swanage Bay are being repaired with local government cash after they were swept away by winter storms.
The path from the Ballard estate down to the area of the beach called Sheps Hollow, is expected to reopen by Saturday 9th November 2024, eight months after it was closed to the public on safety grounds.
Local contractor James Rose has been rebuilding access to the sea
Safe short term access to beach
Replacing the steps has been a priority for the North Beach area of Swanage since a public meeting was held in April 2024 and local residents overwhelmingly requested action at the popular beauty spot.
The closure has meant residents in North Swanage losing their easy access to the beach, making a quick dip in the sea or a dog walk much less convenient. It’s also meant there has been no safe escape route up the cliff from the north end of the beach at high tide.
Although Dorset Council was awarded £3 million from the Environment Agency to address the growing problem of coastal erosion, it was felt that the Sheps Hollow restoration was too urgent to wait until the cash arrives in 2025.
Instead, emergency funds were found by Dorset Council, local contractor J S Rose arrived on site on Tuesday 5th November 2024 and work began to provide safe access to the beach, scheduled to be completed within the week.
A wooden walkway and slope have been rebuilt for much of the way down, but the final 15 steps will be down a metal staircase repurposed from a building site.
It’s intended as a short term solution which should last for eight to 10 years, while a longer lasting resolution to the problem of beach access down an unstable cliff is considered.
The final 15 steps down to the beach will be via a metal staircase
“I would have liked a more permanent solution”
Contractor James Rose said:
“We are due to finish work by Friday afternoon and it will hopefully be open by the weekend. The cliff is a clay and sand mix – we were worried when we started digging into it that we would find a lot of hard rocks, but it was actually quite easy to work.
“I would have liked to see a more permanent solution with timber steps all the way down, but it is likely that another route is going to be created in the next 10 years, so these steps are designed to last for the short term.
“You get a lot of beach visitors here in summer and a lot of dog walkers, and while the area is still accessible in many ways, it was just the last few steps down to the beach that needed something done to them.
“There have been people still using the route down even when the steps have not been there, and that was really dangerous.”
The previous wood and plastic steps at Sheps Hollow were badly damaged in November 2023
By spring 2024 they had been completely washed away by winter storms
The lower half of the steps ended up in the sea
“Contractor engaged to restore access”
Dorset Coast Forum project officer Sara Parker said:
“A contractor has been engaged to restore access to the steps following community requests that a temporary solution be reached. It was felt that this necessary eight to ten year ‘temporary’ solution was required as soon as possible, so funding secured, and work is now underway.
“At the public meeting in April 2024, the overwhelming concern raised was about the future of Sheps Hollow steps, everyone was talking about them.
“People were saying they will still try to get down to the beach that way and it was not safe. It is tricky – I know people wanted to get down there, whether it’s walking the dog or for swimming, and they won’t always listen if you tell them not to.
“Steps had to be taken to close off the route from Ballard estate down to the beach, with an alternative route suggested at Burlington Chine.
“With CTAP funding available at the earliest in 2025, funding was secured by Dorset Council from outside the CTAP project fund to reinstate the access to and from the beach for the community and visitors. We hope everyone will enjoy the new steps.”
Access to Swanage Bay is expected to be restored by Saturday 9th November 2024
Challenges posed by a changing climate
The Environment Agency’s Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme helps communities to plan for the long term, including through interventions such as improving and replacing damaged community infrastructure like beach access or coastal transport links.
Dorset’s grant – to be shared with Charmouth in West Dorset – can be used for repurposing land in coastal erosion zones for different uses such as temporary car parks, and restoring and creating habitats to include green buffer zones.
It aims to accelerate strategic planning to set out how local authorities, partners and communities will address the long-term transition of homes, businesses and assets away from the coastline at risk.
It is hoped to establish medium and long term plans that enable coastal areas at significant risk to address the challenges posed by a changing climate.
Contractors started work on Tuesday 5th November 2024 and made fast progress
Further information
- More about the work of Dorset Coast Forum and this project
