Minefields and Tank Stops Skegness Beach
Re-Opening of Skegness Beach after World War 2
The Skegness Council has been notified by the Regional Commissioner, that there are now no minefields left in the Skegness area and he has approved the opening of the Skegness Beach from a point opposite the Seacroft Hotel southwards to the southern boundary of the Urban District.
The Surveyor, Mr. Rowland. H. Jenkins, reported to the Foreshore Committee that he had the schedule of defence works which have to be removed and the reinstatements required to be carried out.
There were 951 tank stops (including 105 on the roads for which the Ministry of War Transport was responsible) of which only 20 had been removed. He also reported upon alternative means available for the demolition and removal of these concrete blocks.
It was recommended that the demolition of the tank stops be accomplished by the use of explosives, and two members of the Surveyor’s staff are to visit Yarmouth for the purpose of receiving instruction in the use of such explosives.
In a report to the finance Committee the Surveyor stated that as far as he could estimate at the present time, the cost of removing the defence works from the foreshore, would be approximately £13,900, but he hoped to give the exact figure to this week’s Council meeting.
The Surveyor asked whether, in view of the extreme shortage of labour, the Council would have any objection to the employment of prisoners of war on this work, if he was able to arrange with the War Department for this to be done. He also asks for approval for the sale of the fence on the east side of Seacroft Esplanade.
The Committee recommended that the final estimate for the removal of defence works be submitted to the War department, with a request for authority to proceed at once, and that prisoners of war be asked to be employed on this work, on the understanding that the Council can dispense with them if their services do not prove satisfactory. An amendment that war prisoners should not be employed was not carried.
Source: Skegness News 1945
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