Stone removal on Laxey Beach should 'lessen' coastal overtopping 

Garff Commissioners says it's been lobbying government to do some beach management

Stones have been removed from Laxey Beach by the Department of Infrastructure to help 'lessen' coastal overtopping in the village. 

Garff Commissioners says it's been lobbying the government to do some beach management for a long time because of the amount of damage it caused the village in the past. 

It's also hoped moving some stones to the foot of the sea wall will 'protect' the structure. 

Commissioner Melanie Christian says the board hopes the department's plan is successful. 

Local Democracy Reporter Emma Draper has been speaking to her:

Transcription:

Melanie Christian (MC)

Well, we obviously had Storm Debbie a few weeks ago and as a result of that, a lot of the stones moved completely away from the north end of the beach. To the point where you walk down the steps and literally there's a big gap stepping onto the beach, as a result of the storm. So local residents then reported that when the waves hit the wall, it's because of the void and the lack of stones, it's compromising the strength of the wall. So the DOI have now decided to move the stones from the south end of Laxey Beach up to the north end to try and protect the wall and the road underneath. 

Emma Draper (ED)

Did the Commissioners request it, or was it just the DoI that decided to do it? 

MC

As I understand it was the DoI he decided to do that because it's a little bit of a grey area. The commissioners own  the beach, but the DOI own the wall and the road. So it is just making sure the integrity of that wall is kept safe. 

ED

Is this tied into the flood protection works that are going on that something entirely different? 

MC

It is linked to it, because obviously the commissioners welcomed the departments initiative initiative to look forward to seeing if it's successful in moving these stones and protecting the wall. Local residents do report that when the stones weren't there, there's a big vibration against the wall and that they felt their properties were actually shaking from the waves. So having the stones there sort of lessens the energy from the waves and eases the vibration. So we obviously want to work with the DoI in limiting that, but it definitely does seem there needs to be something done in that area long term. 

ED 

How were you made aware that this was happening? Was it contact from residents or was it something that they came to you about? 

MC

I think it was just, was really observation. I think particularly after Storm Debbie, you know I walked down the beach myself a few days later and noticed that a lot of the stones had moved. Residents then reported about this vibration against the wall and there was also a feeling that when the stones aren't there, more debris does appear to be thrown up onto the road after high tides and bad weather. 

ED

Is this something that you at the Commissioners get a lot of contact about, about the beach and the stones and storms and things like that? 

MC

 I think there is a general concern in in particularly Laxey about flooding and coastal overtopping and that is something we're all concerned about. So we are very aware when there is a yellow weather warning for coastal overtopping that we do have resources in place to help local residents deal with that.