Sea bathers at Worthing Beach in Christ Church can expect fewer interruptions in the not too distant future, in light of promised improvements to the sluice gate at the Graeme Hall Swamp.
Word of this has come from Director of the Drainage Division, Keith Barrow, who said his department was currently working with the Coastal Zone Management Unit and the Natural Heritage Department with a view to effecting repairs.
"We have reached the final design stage for the sluice gate, and the consultant has assured us that we can have that towards the end of this calendar year. Hopefully, we will have all the repairs on the gate done by ??this time May or June?? next year, the latest," he explained.
Noting that the particular method currently used to flush the swamp, which entailed the use of sand to block it and a tractor to unblock it, was still in place, Mr. Barrow said the proposed new method should foster improvements to the overall system.
"The design has proposed not only to repair the gate, but an additional flushing method which will make the whole system a lot easier. So that should be in place within the next 10 to 12 months," he emphasised.
Periodically, the Drainage Division has had to temporarily close the Worthing Beach to facilitate the opening of the Sluice Gate during the flushing exercise.