Part of Kirkcaldy’s new coastal defence is to be rebuilt — just three years after the £9 million project was completed.
Some £75,000 will be spent on raising the height of a section of rock armour, where waves continue to crash over on to the promenade.
Over the course of four weeks diggers will lug huge stones to build up a 590ft long section at the car park basin at the western end of the Esplanade.
To ensure the rocks are firmly in place, some of the existing armour will have to be removed before the new crest is rebuilt.
Kirkcaldy West Community Council chairman David Henderson said he was flabbergasted that the work has being undertaken and that the community had not been informed.
He said: “I’m astonished that so soon after having spent all that money that this is happening.
“I thought the whole project had been a terrific success, and we are only three years down the line.
“I’m equally surprised that as the local community council we have not been informed.
“They engaged so beautifully with the public on the big job.”
Kirkcaldy MSP David Torrance, however, said he was pleased that further investment was being made.
He said: “If it’s going to protect this area which is well used by the general public I welcome it.
“The basin car park is well used and you just have to go down there to see how busy the promenade is.”
Fife Council consultant engineer Nicholas Williams described the works as “relatively minor alterations”.
He said: “The work we’re planning to do involves raising the level of the existing rock armour in front of the lorry park/car park at the Tiel Burn end of the Esplanade to make it level with the top of the sea wall.
“This work is small scale compared to the original works and will improve the scheme by protecting the top section of the old repaired seawall and reducing the nuisance of minor waves that occasionally go over this part of the Esplanade walkway.”
Upgrading of the sea wall was completed in November 2014 and the project won an accolade at the Scottish Transport Awards several months later.
The works will require a licence from Marine Scotland and are provisionally programmed to start at the end of August to avoid peak season for visitors but ensure they are completed by late September to protect natural heritage interests.
Work will be conducted in sections of 33ft to 82ft around low tide, with between two and four lorry loads of stone expected each day.
A strip of the promenade up to 13ft wide will be cordoned off to protect the public, as two large excavators will be operating close to the pedestrian fence.
