Seafront clear-up and safety advice
Council teams have been working to clear the seafront and keep residents safe over the last few days, following shingle and debris washing up as a result of Storm Goretti.
The storm brought high tides and strong winds, pushing large amounts of shingle around, including onto promenades and access points.
The situation has been compounded by shipping containers that fell from a vessel near the Isle of Wight last year being washed up along the south coast. Due to the storm, consumer items and food goods have come ashore in Brighton & Hove this week.
While the materials themselves are not hazardous, there is a high risk of contamination from the seawater and broken parts of the container. Please do not put yourself at risk.
- Keep out of the water and keep away from the water’s edge.
- Keep pets on a lead and away from anything washed ashore. Some items that have come loose from the containers, such as onions, can be harmful to dogs.
- Avoid handling any debris and do not take items home.
Council teams and contractors are clearing the debris where it is safe to and logging the items found. This will take time due to the amount of items, as well as the size and weight of some of the bulky pieces of container, and the way it has spread along the coast.
Weather conditions are also making it difficult to get to some of the items.
We know many local groups and volunteers have been helping with clean-ups, which is greatly appreciated. For anyone taking part, we would advise people to use litter pickers or gloves and avoid touching items with bare hands.
Litter pickers are available on the seafront, and we’ve set up collection points for larger items to be dropped off, which our teams can then take away.
If you need any help or advice, please speak to the seafront team or the Beachmasters who are on the beach clearing items in hi-vis jackets.
The need to clean up items spilled from the washed-up containers follows in quick succession from the need to clear the shingle dumped across the seafront at the end of last week.
Council teams and contractors have also been clearing a pathway on key routes to maintain safe access for residents and visitors. We’re working with businesses to resolve any access issues that might impact their trade.
Full clearance will take time and is expensive. With further unsettled weather expected, some areas will not be fully restored until later in the year.
Crews will continue making the key access points safe as a priority.
Councillor Birgit Miller, Cabinet member for Culture, Heritage and Tourism, said: “Our coastline continues to feel the impact of Storm Goretti, with both shingle and unexpected debris arriving in quick succession.
“Our teams are working hard to make the area safe and clear routes.
“We’ve also seen hundreds of residents getting involved in helping to clean up. It’s really shown Brighton & Hove at its best.
“I want to thank you for that support and for your patience. We’ll likely see more items washed up and more shingle moved around as stormy weather continues.
“Please follow the safety advice and don’t put yourself at risk. Keep out of the water, keep your dogs on leads and don’t take items home. And if you’re helping clean up, wear gloves – you can also use the litter pickers available.
“This week’s events highlight the importance of the coastal protection work currently taking place in Hove, which will help to prevent something similar from happening in the future. A new groyne field will help to prevent shingle washing up onto the promenade, to protect homes and businesses from flooding and erosion and to make our city more resilient to increasing storms, extreme rainfall and rising sea levels.”