Rebuilding those shattered defences

Ruth Neller explains how the massive rebulding operation started straight away

WITH residents safely evacuated from the resorts, intensive work began to mend the breaches and rebuild the sea defences.

Slag was brought in by convoys of lorries from Scunthorpe and other steel works, and chalk and stone from all over the Midlands to fill the gaps.

If a lorry became stuck no time was wasted removing it, it simply became part of the new sea defence.

The railway from Louth to Mablethorpe was quickly reopened and slag brought in by rail too.

An estimated 25,000 tons was poured into the breaches every 24 hours. The countyís largest construction companies, Wimpey, Tarmac, McAlpine, Dalmont, Dees and Shand were each shown a gap at Sutton on Sea and told to make it good and the Ministry of Labour was sent to Mablethorpe to recruit skilled building labour for the contractors.

At the peak of the work, 2,500 lorries were each making two or three trips daily from Scunthorpe and the Midlands loaded with slag or stone and additional vehicles were bringing in heavy machinery, transporting men and their supplies.

Local roadways quickly began to deteriorate and the County Surveyor was hard pressed getting bridges, culverts and shoulders strengthened to keep these essential arteries open.

Out of a 420-mile road network being used for flood traffic, no less than 110 miles were badly damaged.

On February 11, snow ploughs were needed to keep the roads clear for slag-laden lorries.

As early as February 2, men worked furiously at drains and opening any underground channel which would lower the flood and the outlet channels were cleared of sand and debris to help the water drain back into the sea.

Vehicles brought in slag and heavy machinery to help rebuild the defences.

A car lies upturned on what had once been Quebec Road, Mablethorpe.

Even lamposts were bent by the force of the water.

Huge areas of sea defence flattened like a pancake at Mablethorpe.

An estimated 25,000 tons of slag was poured into the breaches every 24 hours.

Objects which became stuck in the way of the new defences became a part of it, even army vehicles.

At the peak of the work, 2,500 lorries were each making two or three trips daily from Scunthorpe.

Shattered chalets and promenade littered the coast.

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