October 2024 update

Ongoing work at Montrose dunes

Immediate work, as part of the wider Montrose Coastal Erosion Project, continues with the reprofiling of the existing rock armour at the 2nd tee of the Montrose Golf Links carried out in October.

The rock armour was being overtopped by waves and had been sinking below the beach level, which meant it was no longer providing the erosion protection it was intended for. And so, the rock armour was moved closer to the dune face and reprofiled in a programme of work that was funded by the Montrose Common Good Fund and the golf club.

Plans to construct two rock groynes on Montrose beach to encourage beach nourishment will now take place in 2025 and not before the end of this year as originally intended. This is due to design requirements, consenting processes, and restrictions on working hours and associated construction costs during winter.

Shorter-term options have been investigated - focussing on the most vulnerable points in the dunes, at the ‘pipey’ and directly north and south of the ‘pipey’. We will now infill the low points in these locations with large specially engineered sandbags. This work, which will be carried out in November, will help prevent further erosion at these locations and support the dunes until the long-term proposals can be put in place.

With regards to long-term proposals, the Business Case to support a funding application for the project is well underway and should be completed in early 2025. As part of this, a new Digital Elevation Model has been developed based on the latest topographical data. This is being used to determine the changes in the dunes and allow more accurate predictions of the rates of erosion to be established.