Over the last week, residents and businesses of the area around the Strand have had to suffer the extraordinary noise of machines installing piles into the bank. The bone-shattering sound of the large metal piles being driven into the ground could be heard echoing all round the town.
Work has been going on in Strand Quay since October 2022 to improve the moorings on the quay and to provide safe access for boat users with the aim to encourage more visitors to Rye from the boating and yachting community.
The quay, originally built between 1936 and 1939, was in need of improvement as the ladders, fender and mooring rings on the banks of the River Brede, were in poor condition and needed to be replaced. As part of the works on the quay, a new pontoon, that rises and falls with the tides, and an access ramp for mooring boats have been installed, greatly improving safety (see Rye News article Changes at Strand Quay).
Whilst carrying out these works, which were due to be completed in Autumn 2024, it was discovered that a section of the existing sheet piled walls that form the channel were moving. New piles therefore needed to be driven into the bank close to the wall along the A259 on the river side to stop this movement, and it is these that are being installed at present.
In a letter to local people, dated September 12, Miles Pickering of the Environment Agency said: “Some of the activities associated with these works, notably the piling, have proved to be far noisier than we had anticipated for which we would like to apologise.”
The letter goes on to inform local residents and businesses that there will be a final phase of piling in mid-October taking up to 8 days to complete. “For the second phase of the piling, we intend to communicate the exact date when this phase will commence when we know this and will inform you of the time of day when the noisier activities will take place so that you are aware when to expect this.”
Residents have complained that the work started before anyone was informed and that the noise has severely interrupted their lives.
For more information please contact EA customer service line 03708 506 506
Image Credits: Juliet Duff , Heidi Foster .