CONCERNS have been raised over a proposed scheme to replenish Christchurch beaches by pumping sand from Mudeford Sandbank.

Christchurch Borough Council’s proposals are due to go before the authority’s planning committee on Thursday.

The application proposes pumping sediment and stone from the tip of Mudeford Sandbank across the Run via a submerged pipeline to Gundimore and Avon Beach.

The plans come after severe storms last year decimated sand levels, ‘undermining existing walls and groynes’.

But concerns have been raised by the Christchurch Harbour Association and Mudeford and District Fisherman’s Association.

In their comments, the CHA say they believe the proposals will have an adverse impact on the ‘navigable channel’, which extends from the end of Mudeford Quay to The Needles.

“The removal of the top of the sand spit will cause further erosion and potential danger for navigation”, they add.

And the Mudeford and District Fisherman’s Association say they are concerned that the extraction of sediment from the sand spit “will lead to a loss of depth and definition of the channel and increase the impacts of wave action.”

They also believe the work will have ‘implications’ for navigation.

But Christchurch council say unless the beaches are rebuilt to their ‘design standard’, coast protection structures will be at risk of further damage.

The project will replicate the natural process, the council adds.

And if approved, excavation is likely to take place during low spring tides between April 15 and 22 or May 14 and 21.

There would be two operations a day – in the early hours of the morning and afternoon for around two hours.

The planning report also says while there will be some ‘localised’ changes, the wave activity will return to general form. The plans are recommended for approval.

Previously, Cllr Margaret Phipps, portfolio holder for the environment at Christchurch council, said: “The northern tip of Mudeford sandspit is the preferred location to retrieve the beach material from because the sand is of a similar type to that at Gundimore beach.”