Portland's sea defence is a success and an asset

Chesil's defences open! 

Portland's Chesil beach sits somewhat safely behind this sea wall, part of the sea defence system, which started in the 60's, it obviously works well as we saw the winter just gone when we had a magnificent storm which threw up some of the biggest waves we have had for over a decade, Chesil beach was battered for a while but thankfully held up to avoid what we know can happen, severe flooding.

Hard to believe the beach could be so rough when you see it's stillness in the summer.

So, it's rare to see this main gate open here on the sea wall, I have only seen it open a few times in my life, thankfully I had the camera with me... just to prove it does open!

The sea wall itself is a real asset to Portland, once of nicest places to take a walk, at anytime too.

Without this sea wall here the cliffs would have crumbled further back putting the local junior school and some homes at risk, so the wall had to be built and I remember my parents saying they watched the wall being built when they were younger, dad lived in Chesil, just along from where I am now.

Thankfully this sea defence doesn't effect other areas further along like so many do in the UK, effectively "moving" the problem along for someone else to deal with and causing the erosion to continue.

We can say this sea defence is a real success, the sea wall is a real asset, one we all enjoy here.