GPSJ Autumn 2024 ONLINE - Flipbook - Page 13
LOCAL AUTHORITY & COUNCIL
GPSJ
Welsh Slate to supply rock
armour for Kinmel Bay sea
defence project
Rock armour from a Welsh Slate quarry is helping to keep local people safe.
Granite from Welsh Slate’s
historic Ffestiniog quarry in north
Wales is helping to bolster vital
sea defences at Kinmel Bay 40
miles away.
Some 2,000 tonnes of the
stone are being hauled every
week for Conwy County
Borough Council’s £13 million
redevelopment of the vulnerable
site.
Work includes strengthening
of the current revetment between
Towyn and Kinmel Bay with a
total of 80,000 tonnes of rock
armour sourced from a variety
of local quarries, raising 2km of
sea wall by up to 750mm, and
replacing two 昀氀oodgates, to
safeguard the local community
and infrastructure from the
impact of stormy weather and
associated coastal 昀氀ooding.
Earlier this year, the e昀昀ects of
Storm Pierrick meant residents
were on standby to evacuate
their homes, with an estimated
10 to 20 reported to have been
marooned after seawater struck
Sandy Bay.
In addition to the mitigation
work, the seafront will be
enhanced with improved beach
access, car park upgrades, and
the installation of a toilet block
and street furniture.
Welsh Slate is supplying
local civil engineers Jones Bros
Civil Engineering UK with more
than 50,000 tonnes of three to
six-tonne each of granite rock
armour from Ffestiniog. Work
started in September (2024) and
is due to complete this winter
(2025/2026).
The leading UK manufacturer
of roo昀椀ng slates and architectural
products, alongside minerals and
aggregates, had stock of up to
25,000 tonnes, sourced from a
granite seam in the quarry, and
with an additional pull of 1,000
tonnes a week, has been able to
supply 15,400 tonnes to date.
Welsh Slate works manager
Robin Evans said: “This contract
has required a lot of pre-planning
and investment including a new
drill rig, but it has been good to
see the quarry involved in this
vital cause.
“The demand for our rock
armour is huge and we are
fortunate that it is produced as a
by-product of our other
operations. Nevertheless, our
quality control processes ensure
it meets the highest standards of
durability and performance.”
He added: “As well as
reinforcing the coastal defences,
this project underlines our
commitment to sustainable
sourcing and local economic
development.”
Work on the sea defences is
due to continue until the spring
when the project will stand down
for the summer tourist season to
reduce vehicle movements during
the school holidays.
GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SECTOR JOURNAL WINTER 2024/2025
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