Storm-battered bay’s barriers set for repair
NORTH Tyneside’s Browns Bay is set for repairs following damages wrought by storm Babet in October last year.
North Tyneside Council has confirmed that railings lost from the popular dog-walking site are now set to be replaced. Work will begin to restore the coastal barriers on the bay, located between Whitley Bay and Cullercoats, at the end of next month.
Temporary barriers had been installed after the storm but a combination of poor weather, high tides, and large waves continued to bring some down. While weather warnings were in place back in October, the local authority warned residents to “think twice before heading down to the coast”.
Whitley Bay councillor John O’Shea said: “I know lots of people made enquiries about this, particularly dog walkers.
“I am so pleased that the council has been able to sort out the replacement of these railings, which has been long overdue, I think around six months.” A spokesperson for North Tyneside Council said: “We are pleased to confirm that work to replace the railings at Brown’s Bay will begin at the end of May, after they were knocked down by Storm Babet in October 2023, and there will be repairs to some other coastal railings as well. The work will improve the look and feel of the bay and once again provide safe access for members of the public.”
Storm Babet raged between October 18 and 21 last year, with winds of over 58mph reported across North East England. According to a contemporary Met Office report, the storm brought “the most severe and widespread disruptive weather impacts of 2023 so far”.