Earnse Bay erosion: rock rolls 'washed away' after high tide

The council admitted that it installed the rock rolls, but the £11,000 cost was funded by West Shore Park. 

Chris Ainsbury runs Earnse Bay Kitesurfing, which is near West Shore Park - a section of coastline that is under constant threat from the sea. 

The rock roll bags can be seen near West Shore Park (Image: Submitted)

In February rock rolls, which are prefilled bags, were placed to increase the stability of the natural embankment by the council as a short-term solution to the erosion. 

Mr Ainsbury said that these rock rolls had become dislodged with the recent 'ten-metre high' tides and weather Walney Island has been subject to. He described the rock rolls as 'not a proper defence'.

The rate of erosion now occurring in Earnse Bay (Image: Submitted)

"When I noticed they had done it - first high tide will wash it away."

Until recently, cars could access the beaches in the north of Walney by driving up West Shore Road, but most of this has now fallen into the sea. 

"It's not good for my business," Mr Ainsbury said. "Seven years ago you used to have 50 to 60 kids but now it's not standard.

Before the road disappeared, Mr Ainsbury said that you 'couldn't move' the beach would be so busy (Image: Submitted)

"You have a good summers day before they go back to school - lucky you have 100 people on that beach because its so dangerous, it's not appealing to people. Five or six years ago you wouldn't have been able to move on that beach."

Mr Ainsbury shared photos of the beach on August 22. He said: "Another large piece of the island gone into the tide last night, the footpath now unstable by the entrance. One more large tide tonight it may disappear once and for all."

READ MORE: Council responds to Earnse Bay, Walney, defences washing away

A spokesperson from the council said: “We are aware of the coastal erosion that has been occurring during recent years, in particular to the immediate north of the existing rock armour sea defence at Earnse Bay.

"We fully understand and share the concerns about the erosion impacting residents, local businesses and visitor access and it is important to us that we work with Government and partners to address the economic, community and environmental impacts of coastal erosion.

“Funded by West Shore Park as the owner of the land, the council installed pre-filled bags known as ‘rock rolls’ costing £11,000, to reinforce the north end of the existing rock revetment as a temporary measure. Sadly, the initial installation was not successful and works to repair these started this week.

“The coastline north of West Shore Park where the erosion has occurred falls under a centrally agreed Shoreline Management Plan and we will be working with the new Government to make a case for more investment to better protect our shorelines and nature reserves.

“Climate change remains the challenge of our generation and we have to anticipate the further impacts of this on our environment and our way of life. We have been in regular contact with the residential park owner and residents for many years and we will continue to work closely and engage with them as well as businesses and stakeholders to manage the situation within the current resources.”