POOLE’S golden beaches are back to where they were before last winter’s storms decimated them.

Weeks of work to restore the seafront has come to an end, aimed at protecting residential properties and infrastructure from coastal erosion.

The final load of recycled sand, dredged from the main shipping channel into Poole Harbour has been returned to the beach.

Over the last four weeks a total of 139,000 cubic metres of sand has built the beaches up to previous levels.

Shore Road in particular suffered during the storms, with 10-years worth of erosion occurring in just a couple of months.

DEFRA awarded Poole £750,000 funding to pump 40,000 cubic metres of sand onto the beach. Then an additional £1.2 million of government funding was secured to extend the sand replenishment scheme towards Branksome beach.

Cllr Xena Dion, cabinet portfolio holder for flood and coastal management, Borough of Poole, thanked all involved.

“They have worked really hard to finish the project on schedule, despite losing several days to bad weather,” she said.

“By working closely with DEFRA and Poole Harbour Commissioners we estimate to have saved around £300,000 by extending the scheme as we already had the dredger, pipeline and heavy plant in place; a fine example of partnership working.”

She also thanked residents for their patience while sections of the beach were closed.

“We are delighted with the results of the sand replenishment scheme.

“Although vital to protect Poole against coastal erosion, we now have the wide sandy beaches we know and love for all to enjoy throughout the year.”

The pipeline is being dismantled and on Monday the sinker-line currently on the seabed will be floated and moved onto the beach at Canford Cliffs. All will be removed in the new year.