CIVIC chiefs are hopeful a £2 million scheme to recharge Swanage beach will get started this October.

Purbeck district councillors have approved the installation of timber groynes to protect the sea wall and are now waiting to hear what government funding will be available.

Consultants at Halcrow initially recommended a scheme involving rock groynes but this was subsequently changed to timber groynes following consultation with the local community.

Cllr Tony Miller said: "We fought hard for this and now we have the wooden groynes we wanted and work is going to start this winter. It's great for Swanage."

Defra has offered a grant of 80 per cent if the scheme is carried out in 2005/06 and approval of this is expected shortly.

This will leave a shortfall of £427,000 and the district council hopes Dorset County Council will contribute to this.

The timescale for the scheme is tight and needs to tie in with the dredging of Poole Harbour. The project has been put out to tender and it is hoped that the contract will be awarded by the beginning of September.

Halcrow's work programme suggested the scheme would start at the beginning of October and the council is hopeful this can be achieved. The work is expected to take up to 32 weeks to complete.

Cllr Nick Cake said: "This has been a complex project to draw together, with 98 different parties having legal interests in the beach - all of whom have now agreed the same scheme.

"The issue of funding has been complicated, as have the various studies that have had to be undertaken to ensure that the prerequisites for planning permission and other consents were met.

"It has also been important that public consultation with the residents of Swanage has taken place throughout the planning stages and that their input has been acted upon."

A public meeting is due to take place in September when residents can study the plans and see the work programme. Work will be planned to have minimal impact on the tourist season and to cause as little impact as possible on businesses.

First published: August 30