Outer Trial Bank
Outer Trial Bank | |
---|---|
Type | Nature reserve |
Location | The Wash, East Anglia, England |
Coordinates | 52°50′30″N 0°14′35″E / 52.8418°N 0.2431°E |
Area | 4.265 hectares (10.54 acres) |
The Outer Trial Bank is a circular artificial island in the Wash, East Anglia, England. It is one of two artificial islands constructed during the 1970s for a proposed UK governmental water resources scheme.[1]
History
In 1972, the
Construction of the banks
As part of the test, the approval to build an artificial island 2 miles (3.2 km) off the Lincolnshire coast was given in November 1974.[3][4] Building work began in February 1975.[3] The bank (known locally as "the doughnut" due to its biconcave shape[4]) was constructed of a sand fill protected by limestone riprap.[3] Measuring 250 metres (820 ft) in diameter, the island contained a small reservoir measuring 1 hectare (2.5 acres) in the centre.
A smaller and cruder trial bank is connected by a causeway on Terrington Marsh, Norfolk (52°49′7.05″N 0°17′15.28″E / 52.8186250°N 0.2875778°E). It was constructed prior to the larger offshore version.[3]
Conclusions
The study, which was published in 1976 as "The Wash storage scheme",[5] found that the trial alone proved financially unfeasible (costing £3 million),[4] and that the freshwater was too close to the tidal estuary to ensure low salinity and minimal silt levels.[1] The trial was soon abandoned and the plans for the scheme permanently shelved.[4]