Recycling shingle for coastal protection

Shingle recycling such as takes place at Dungeness and Rye are less problematic than beach nourishment schemes. Material is almost always derived from the local source and 'recycled' to replenish the system, hence the introduction of unsuitable or contaminated shingle is less likely to occur. Three examples from the south coast are considered:

1. At Dungeness (Annex 05), longshore drift is from west to east and the tip of the ness would naturally continue to move eastwards. The short-term consequence of this would be a deficit of material immediately in front of the nuclear power stations. Clearly the nuclear power station needs protecting and as a result, beach nourishment is carried out to build up the shore and protect the buildings from being undermined and possibly falling into the sea. This is undertaken by collecting material at the east of the site and moving it to the west. Longshore drift ensures the material is carried to the shoreline in front of the station and eventually back to where it was originally collected in the east. From here it is scooped up again and carried back to the west: a never-ending cycle of recharge. Although this protects the power station it prevents the accretion of 'pioneer' shingle ridges on the east side of the site;
2. At Rye Harbour (Annex 04) the current defences are maintained by recycling shingle that has collected against the River Rother Harbour arm. It is thought that these could be breached as frequently as once in five years without the further beach recharge schemes that are planned or implemented further east;
3. At Church Norton Spit, Pagham Harbour (Annex 03), the seaward side is also replenished, annually by the Environment Agency, who recycle large quantities of shingle from the foreshore over a two-month period in winter, usually January/February.