Work to remove loose rocks on the Undercliff starts next week

Work will begin next week to remove loose rocks and debris from a section of the Undercliff Walk

Specialist contractors will be abseiling down the Undercliff between Roedean and Rottingdean ramps. This is a continuation of work which began in Saltdean earlier in the spring.

While there, they’ll be using hand scaling techniques to remove loose rock and material from the side of the cliff.  

The work will begin the week beginning Monday 13 November is expected to take around 6 weeks, depending on the weather conditions.

The Undercliff Walk will need to be closed in sections between the Roedean and Rottingdean ramps while this work takes place. Diversions will be in place at times, however, access will remain to chalets and the Ovingdean Beach Café.

Picture: Loose rocks at the bottom of the Undercliff taken earlier this year

Why are you doing this?

The cliffs are exposed to the harsh winds, rain and cold which, over time, causes them to erode.

To keep people safe, we sometimes need to remove loose rocks to help prevent larger cliff falls.

The work also helps to maintain the angle of the slope which slows the cliffs’ erosion.

During periods of bad weather, such as in January of this year, we often see large amounts of rocks fall onto the path below.

Picture: Large rocks which fell onto the Undercliff Walk earlier this year

Protecting our coastline

Work has also been continuing in recent months on measures to prevent flooding and coastal erosion along the city’s coastline.

This has included work on constructing two rock armour revetments, a protective layer of rock, adjacent to Basin Road South.

Read more about the Brighton Marina to River Adur Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Scheme.