myGeobrugg
2026
A sandstone cliff above a frequently used playground in Folkestone, Kent, had been experiencing slope instability and rockfall issues for the past two years. The site is in the Lower Leas Coastal Park, with a total slope height of approximately 35 metres.
The Weathered Folkestone Sandstone had become increasingly unstable following coastal storms and erosion. Following heavy rainfall in early 2024, there were serious concerns. The chosen solution was a hybrid solution with an upper active rock bolted and meshed solution (upper 6 metres), becoming a passive drape netting solution across the lower 17 metres of the slope, all underlain by a geotextile to help prevent further surface erosion. The total width of the site was 20 metres.
Slope failures, first noticed when the slope moved, and cracks appeared in the walkway above. The failures were identified as a shallow translational slip approximately 1 metre deep.
Consultant company Tony Gee and Partners was approached to assess the slope and provide a remediation solution to protect the public spaces above and below the slope from further slope movement.
Weathered Folkestone Sandstone Formation
The chosen solution was a hybrid solution with an upper active rock bolted and meshed solution (upper 6 metres), becoming a passive drape netting solution across the lower 17 metres of the slope, all underlain by a geotextile to help prevent further surface erosion. The total width of the site was 20 metres
Due to high amounts of vegetation on site, the topography was difficult to determine, Tony Gee attended the site regularly with CAN Geotechnical to adjust the locations of nails on site to suit conditions.
The upper section of the solution utilised R32 hollow bars, to 5 metres depth, combined with Geobrugg TECCO G45/2 stainless steel mesh and P33 plates. Stainless steel was chosen due to the coastal location of the site to protect against corrosion.
The combination of an active and passive netting solution provided a cost effective way to mitigate the translational failure identified and containing and further rockfall on the lower part of the slope.
英国
Folkestone & Hythe District Council
Coastline
INOX / STAINLESS