18 March 2008
As a result of the storms last week timber cargo from the merchant vessel, the "Ice Prince", which sank off Portland Bill on the 15th January 2008, has been washed up onto some of the beaches at Holywell.
Around 2000 tonnes of timber carried on deck was lost to the sea and some of this cargo made its way up the Channel, the majority initially coming ashore along the Sussex coast between Worthing and Brighton. Very little had arrived at Eastbourne until the severe storms of Monday and Tuesday last week which resulted in several hundred planks being washed up on half a dozen beaches at Holywell.
Cabinet Spokesperson for the Envorinment, Councillor Steve Wallis says ‘We are working closely with the contractors and Natural England to arrange for the timber to be removed from our beaches. We are keen to reduce the impact of the timber on the beaches and natural environment, and to ensure that removal is by the best possible means.’
The vessel owners have appointed contractors who are responsible for recovery of the timber cargo. The timber will be collected from the beach after Easter for disposal by recycling. After removal from site the timber will be "chipped" which will reduce the timber to bio mass.
