A GROUP of New Forest scouts battling to save their headquarters are celebrating after the campaign to preserve the site received a double boost.

Hythe Sea Scouts have been given planning permission to carry out the vital work needed to prevent their waterfront clubhouse from being swept away.

And they have raised more than half the money needed to fund the coastal defence scheme.

As reported in the Daily Echo, the site on the western shores of Southampton Water are under threat from erosion caused by storms and the wash from passing ships.

The water is currently just 15 feet from the single-storey building and literally laps against the back door during bad weather.

Ferocious weather that battered Hampshire in 2014 changed the shape of a nearby saltmarsh that used to protect the land used by the Scouts.

An appeal launched to finance coastal defence work has so far netted £46,000 - and the district council has granted permission for the £80,000 project.

Work on the scheme has already started following the council’s decision.

Mark Clark, a member of the fundraising committee, said: “Wave action has caused very rapid erosion and the integrity of our building is severely threatened.

“The defence works will involve vertical oak piles being driven into the ground along a line that broadly follows the shape of the eroded bank.

“Robust boards will be bolted between these piles and the structure will be backfilled on the landward side to form a structure that will protect against the action of the waves.”

Mr Clark said the scheme was designed to be affordable and able to cope with the weather and tidal conditions that were expected to occur.

He added: “Most importantly, it will be environmentally acceptable in view of the sensitive nature of this area along the western shore of Southampton Water.”

Commenting on the success of the fundraising appeal he said: “We are absolutely delighted to have smashed through the half-way barrier.“This has just given us extra encouragement to us to reach our full total within two years.We still remain cautious about the condition of our site. We still have a very long way to go yet andwith each week that passes, especially during the winter months, the erosion will only get worse and make our job that bit harder.”

Anyone wishing to donate should e-mail markcl10@gmail.com.