CONCERNS are growing along the Eastbourne coastline after an additional shipping container was discovered washed up at Pevensey Bay today (14 January), amid ongoing clean-up efforts following a major spill of debris linked to cargo lost at sea during recent storms.
Wealden District Council confirmed the latest incident, saying the container is currently lying on the shore at Pevensey Bay, with a visible strandline of polystyrene stretching along much of the bay. Crews have been deployed to deal with the situation as a matter of urgency.
A spokesperson for the council said: “We are aware that a container has washed ashore at Pevensey Bay and there is a strandline of polystyrene along much of the bay. We are working with our cleansing contractor to remove this debris as a priority. We are also making arrangements to remove the container once the tide has dropped. We are working with partner agencies and neighbouring authorities and would urge the public to take extra care if they are visiting the coastline.”
The discovery follows the earlier washing up of a damaged container at Seaford Beach yesterday, which broke apart and scattered tins of milk, polystyrene packaging and other goods along a wide stretch of coastline between Seaford and Eastbourne.
The cargo is believed to have been lost overboard during severe weather near the Isle of Wight.
Sources have now suggested that the original incident may have involved multiple containers, raising fears that further debris, or additional containers, could yet reach shore in the coming days.
In Eastbourne, council teams and volunteers have been working intensively to clear polystyrene and other waste from beaches and the seafront. The Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, Cllr Stephen Holt, praised those involved in the clean-up while urging caution.
He said: “I would like to thank the volunteers who are out helping us clean up the beach in Eastbourne and along our seafront. We know how important our seafront is, and so to ensure the clean-up is completed as quickly as possible, we have diverted all our Neighbourhood First officers and street sweeping staff to focus entirely on clearing the beach mess caused by the shipping container spillages.
“I urge anyone assisting on the beach to please do so safely. If you are on-site and require guidance, please ask one of our staff members. I have also written to the Government to ask what safeguards can be put in place to avoid these incidences reoccurring.”
Members of the public are being asked not to handle debris themselves, as polystyrene and loose cargo can pose risks to both people and wildlife. Authorities say monitoring of the coastline is continuing, with further updates expected as the situation develops.
