Concerns have been raised after part of a new sea wall moved during Storm Darragh - just months after being installed as part of a £880,000 project.

The structure at Broadstairs harbour was fitted by Thanet District Council (TDC) this year as part of wider plans to protect the district from adverse weather.

One image taken by district councillor George Rusiecki shows the concrete structure being propped up following this weekend’s storm.

Other pictures on social media also show the wall looking frail, despite TDC splashing out almost £900,000 of Environment Agency (EA) money out on improving sea defences.

It has led to some residents branding the coastal site “a death trap”.

Cllr Rusiecki (Con) told KentOnline: “We’re not Neptune - we can’t hold back the sea. But we need to do what we can protect the area.

“It was a big storm but the tides were very small. Imagine what would have happened if the tide was one metre higher – it would have been a mess.

“The power of the waves is phenomenal. It’s difficult to predict how you’re going to stop it.

“As it stands, it needs reworking.”

At Broadstairs harbour, the pier head and sea wall were said to be in “poor condition” when the council announced in September last year it would invest in its defences.

A TDC report outlining the risks said: “In a do-nothing scenario, the pier head could be eroded to the extent that it is a risk of catastrophic failure during a significant storm event within the next 10 years.”

If nothing was done to the old sea wall, it was thought it would begin to lose some of the concrete blocks it is made of, leading to “cliff erosion, threatening cliff-top property”.

Works included the stabilisation of the existing sea defences and new flood walls, as well as gates in front of the Tartar Frigate pub to reduce the flood risk to properties at the bottom of Harbour Street.

A spokesperson for Thanet District Council said as work is still ongoing on the sea defences, the concrete block had not yet been secured to the sea wall.

They explained: "Damage has not occurred to the integrity of the sea wall structure.

“During the recent storm, a single precast concrete ‘wave wall’ block was moved. The precast concrete blocks that make up the defence have not yet been secured to the sea wall. As such, the block was, and still is, located within a fenced off area, and is not accessible to the public.

"Work is being undertaken to protect Broadstairs Harbour from erosion and dilapidation, and to improve the standard of flood defence to surrounding properties.

"The existing harbour structure is also being repaired and stabilised, and the tarmac resurfaced. This work is being prioritised over the winter months ahead of the 2025 season.

"This grant-funded work also includes the installation of flood gates and the works are still ongoing with completion due in January 2025.

"When complete, the upgraded defences will significantly improve the risk of flood and erosion at Broadstairs Harbour and Viking Bay."