Pirate Springs (MU 18/4 to 18/5)

The hinterland at Pirate Springs is afforded a lower standard of protection against flooding than elsewhere in the area. The wall has a stepped concrete apron, at the same level as the "lower apron" along the golf course frontage 18/3. The rear concrete wall at 18/4 is at a level of about 6.2mOD, dropping further to a level of about 6.0mOD at 18/5 in the northern half of the frontage. This means that there is less than 0.5m of freeboard at the 200 year water level and hence little protection against even moderate wave action if beach levels fall. At present renourishment is shared between here and the Littlestone-on-Sea frontage to the southward. The renourishment volume for both frontages varies between 2000 and 5000m3 pa. On the day of inspection (29/8/98) beach levels at the wall toe were considerably lower than on any part of the frontage to the southward with a large expanse of concrete steps exposed.

The jointing in the rear wall has no sealant giving large gaps between rear wall sections. Also there has been serious abrasion of the concrete steps. The shingle beach is at a lower level in this area and much of the wave energy is dissipated on the stepwork.

North of TR09012700 the concrete pavement has been resurfaced. The low wave return wall, however, is extensively cracked and spalled at the joints and there are horizontal cracks indicating landward displacement. The concrete steps near the junction with the new concrete wall to the north (St Mary's Bay 18/6) are badly abraded and extensively spalled.