On 10th February it was possible to visit the beach in safety and this view shows the gabion mattress and a general view towards Chesil Cove. The Environment Agency contractors and the Army were involved in maintaining the beach profile to provide maximum protection for Chiswell and Victoria Square. A new storm ridge was being formed by wave action along the shoreline.
This picture shows shingle and tarmac built up against the flood gate by the Cove Inn. The Cove Inn had also taken a battering in a non fishy sense!
During the storms shingle was thrown over the top of the beach onto the aptly named Pebble Lane that runs from the Cove Inn carpark to Chiswell High Street.
Close up of wrecked gabions near the Cove Inn provide evidence of the ferocity of the storms. They had been in place for around 30 years but couldn't withstand the force of the unrelenting 2014 storms.
During a lull in the sequence of storms, a new shingle ridge built up and this was used to reprofile the beach to protect property and infrastructure behind the beach. However the Valentine's Day storm was on its way!
This picture taken on February 12th shows how the beach had been built up by the heavy machinery being employed by the Environment Agency.
The storms had been so severe that water had not only overtopped the beach crest but had flowed through the beach between the pebbles and created many new canns on the inland side of the beach. Shingle was washed over the vegetation that had previously colonised the beach shore. This one is near the Ferrybridge Centre.