Delight at completion of £21.8m new sea defences at Fairhaven

The last of the three sections linking Fairhaven to Lytham has been officially opened to conclude a £21.8m project which has been ongoing for two and a half years.

This week’s official opening of the final stretch behind Fairhaven Lake from Stanner Bank to St Paul’s Avenue came six weeks after the unveiling of the adjacent section at Granny’s Bay, which in turn was opened just three weeks after that up to Church Scar, Lytham.

The work to upgrade the sea defences started early in 2018.

It has been largely funded by the Environment Agency and carried out by specialists VBA, a joint venture between VolkerStevin, Boskalis Westminster and SNC-Lavalin’s Atkins.

It was completed under budget and, despite the pandemic, ahead of the scheduled completion date of December 2020.

The project replaces the sea defence walls built in the 1890s and long described as “time expired” and failing, as they had to undergo annual emergency repairs to prevent a major breach.

As well as the upgrade to the promenades from Fairhaven Lake to Lytham, it provides new protection from coastal erosion, with more than 2,600 properties to benefit.

Coun Roger Small, chairman of Fylde Council's operational management committee, said: “Thanks to the contractor for finishing the work to such a high standard and ahead of schedule.. The newly completed scheme has already been praised by members of the public as well as the Government commissioning agencies. We are delighted this is now officially open.”

Coun Thomas Threlfall, the Council-appointed representative for the Fairhaven and Church Scar Sea Defence project board added: “What we see along the shoreline today is beyond my wildest dreams.

“I want to thank the fantastic team at Fylde Council and VolkerStevin for all of their hard work, which has been complemented many a time already from residents and visitors to the area.

“Work to be proud of.”

Mark Cronshaw, framework director at VBA, added: “We are very proud of the work we’ve completed in partnership with Fylde Council.

“We’ve already had some fantastic feedback from local residents which is testament to the effort and hard work of the project team.”