Coastal engineers are looking at options to enable people to walk all the way along a resort’s shores after stormy seas swept away steps over a breakwater.
Walkers were dismayed to find the flight of steps on one of the groynes at Old Felixstowe had vanished.
Because of erosion, some of the breakwaters along the beach between Brackenbury and Jacob’s Ladder stand around eight feet high.
The steps were put in place some years ago to enable people to climb up one side of the wooden groynes, cross over via a platform and then down steps on the other side.
Former town councillor Nick White said he was surprised to find his way blocked when walking along the beach.
He said: “We could see the steps were gone and so there appeared no way of getting through.
“The steps are a bit steep and a bit slippery sometimes, but at least they ensure we can walk the beach.
“A few days later from the other direction we could see there was a sign on the other side so we guessed there must have been a reason they were gone.”
Suffolk Coastal and Waveney district council’s coast protection team confirmed that the steps had been broken in a recent storm. They were retrieved and are now in storage.
A spokesman said: “We are aware of the situation and are considering options to resolve it.”
The steps ensure people can walk all the way from Felixstowe Ferry to Landguard at low water.
It is possible to get through at the back of the breakwaters as long as the beach levels do not rise.
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