A meeting this week should finalise the future of the groynes on Douglas beach, after years of wrangling.

At its July sitting, Douglas councillors backed a plan from the environmental services committee to accept a tender to remove the groynes from the beach.

The approved tender bid came from R.G.W Limited and is ’considered competitive and represents best value for money’.

Removal of the groynes has been a topic of debate for some time in the council as members questioned what it would do to the rising levels of sand and stones on the beach. On Central Promenade, the beach has reached the same level as the road.

Councillor Raina Chatel told members she supported renewing the groynes as she believes that removal will only lead to bigger problems on the beach. However, chairman of the committee Ritchie McNicholl told councillors that even if the council was to install new groynes, it would only slow the accumulation of sand and stones, but could not stop it. He added that the costs to remove and replace the groynes would be ’astronomical’.

Referring to reports done on the beach, Mr McNicholl said the issue of sea weed and drift was caused by the extended break water, but that the only way forward to increase the height of the harbour wall.