A – Attempt to negotiate with the spring 2020 tender bidders to achieve the earliest possible site start date
Money. Assuming a total Coastal Management budget allocation of £570,000 the funding gap is estimated at up to £530,000. This may reduce if EA grant is awarded.
Pros. Marine safety is improved asap. ESC reputation is improved asap. Risk of further fender damage is reduced.
Cons. Amendments to the Marine Licence will delay the earliest start date to January / February 2021. This is mid-winter and will increase the weather cost risk.
B – Defer work to spring 2021 in hope of obtaining more and lower bids
Money. Assuming a total Coastal Management budget allocation of £570,000 the funding gap is estimated at up to £530,000. This may reduce if EA grant is awarded.
Pros. Shoreline conditions in spring 2021 will be more favourable than winter possibly allowing a lower-cost beach access option and probably with a lower weather downtime cost. A new tender process post-Covid19 may produce more competitive prices for a marine access option.
Cons. The extent of damage may increase requiring more capital repair work than in current scope. There will be increased risk to harbour users from an extended period of reduced protection. The reputation of the Council may suffer from criticism for another delay.
C – Increase the scope of works to replace the whole seaward fender length
It is increasing difficult to gain access to the seaward fender to allow major works. The mobilisation cost of the required equipment is high. There is an argument to maximise use of the equipment once in place to delay the time to the next mobilisation. The maximum works option is to replace ~30m of seaward fender, including those remaining parts installed in 2008.
Money. The cost of this option may be up to £1,500,000 assuming marine access, much less if by land access.
Pros. Will delay the need for capital renewal costs to the seaward fender for 20-25 years.
Cons. The channel fender will probably need capital renewal works within 5-10 years probably involving marine access. If so, this will provide an opportunity to do works to the seaward fender, if required.
D – Do not repair the damaged and missing seaward fender parts
Based upon the 2020 tender returns the cost of sustaining a fender at this location are extremely high. The rate/m is ~£50,000. This compares with a range of ~£3,000/m to ~£15,000/m for recent coastal defence works in Suffolk.
This raises questions including:
What have been the negative consequences of a part failed seaward fender since 2017? What are the risks to the Council of not replacing it? Do the benefits of an intact seaward fender justify the high cost of sustaining it?
These questions have been posed before. The response of the majority of consultees is that a fender at this location is required.