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The page that keeps you up to date with the latest developments concerning the Carlyon Bay controversy.


lst AUGUST 2010:  SHORTHORN AND POLGAVER "RESTORED" 

 

Polgaver August 2010

 The Sandy river once again meandering across the beach after tons of rocks hemming it in were removed 


It's almost like old times on Shorthorn and Polgaver beaches, after part of the illegal shuttering and rock armour have been removed.  A temporary car park has also been opened at the Shorthorn end of Crinnis beach,   reached via the road which runs behind the old Coliseum building.  

The developer has been working on dismantling part of the illegal shuttering and rock armour which has been blocking the beach since 2004 (they have been forced to do so because of an Enforcement Notice which demands its removal by 7th December 2010).  As part of the work, thousands of tons of rock and sand have been piled at the back of Shorthorn beach and the beach profile around the Sandy River has been levelled out (is this work in a tidal zone legal?).  
Without the huge boulders of rock armour which were used to try to force the river in a straight line down the beach (and which made trying to cross it so hazardous) it has resumed its previous habit of meandering across the beach.  

But at least for the summer season, visitors can park on the beach and enjoy it as far as that is possible - although the shuttering will remain on the Crinnis section.  That is due to be removed during the autumn - we watch and wait!

 
(Meanwhile take a look at the work going on to preserve our neighbouring beach at Par Sands and to encourage beach users to respect the natural environment )

24th June 2010:  WORK STARTS ON ILLEGAL WALL (BUT ONLY PART OF IT)

16/07/2010 Rocks being removed from Sandy River

 Rocks are being removed from the river outfall
 on Shorthorn


At long last, work has started on removing part of the sea defence barrier which was erected illegally six years ago by Ampersand.   Already some pilings have been removed from one section and have been re-erected in a new "unauthorised" construction of about 10 metres long set at a right-angle to the old front line.  Most of the pilings and rocks east of the river outfall have been removed as has the footbridge over the river.   Most of the displaced material is being "stored" at the back of Shorthorn and into Polgaver and very large quantities of sand have been lifted and moved back into that area.

So does this mean that the developers are going to remove the entire illegal line of shuttering and rock armour by December as they are obliged to do by an Enforcement Notice issued by Restormel Borough Council in 2007?   Unsurprisingly, the answer seems to be "no".  It would mean shutting the entire beach during the summer months, they say (why didn't they start the work earlier then?)  In any case,  they're hoping they'll be able to have the Enforcement Notice amended, allowing them to keep the Crinnis end of the wall beyond December - using as their excuse that they'll be awaiting the outcome of a new planning application.  (Although we understand Cornwall Council is resisting this move and has told them they must comply with the order to remove everything by the December.)  As for removing the Shorthorn section - they were going to do that anyway as part of their new proposals for "soft" sea defences there.

So, faced with this order to remove the entire wall, they are once again riding roughshod over public opinion by starting on it only months before the deadline and then trying to wriggle out of the rest of their obligations.  (Presumably they are working on the assumption that their planning application will be successful.) 

Meanwhile, local residents have received letters saying the work is likely to take 10 weeks and parts of Shorthorn will be closed to the public for safety reasons at times.  The developers also say they will try to provide temporary parking near Shorthorn in time for the start of the summer season at the end of July.

Heavy lifting equipment will be brought in via Charlestown Road, Church Road and Beach Road - although they say they will avoid busy times.    


17th FEBRUARY 2010:  LAST SECTION OF PATH OPEN TO THE BEACH

After nearly six years, it is now possible to walk down to the beach at Crinnis from Beach Road, or the top car park,  without having to negotiate more than 80 steep steps down the side of the cliff.   The route as far as the edge of the Coliseum site was reopened as a public right of way at the beginning of February.  But it wasn't possible to get to the beach because of the illegally constructed steel shuttering and rock armour which blocks it.

New path for the beach

 Despite the sign, a bridge over the shuttering extends the footpath onto the foreshore


Now a temporary bridge has been built over the shuttering and rock armour, extending the path onto the foreshore.  However, it will be closed at 6pm each night and at other times for maintenance, according to the developer.  Footpath campaigners are continuing to try to get this final section designated a public right of way so that access doesn't rely on permission from the developers.  

Visitors to the beaches, it seems, are not being encouraged to use the newly reopened path.  A sign, rather sternly, marks the end of the current right of way and doesn't invite anyone to walk on and cross the bridge.  There are no signs at the top of the road explaining that it is now everyone's right to walk down if they wish.  So anyone who wants to use Crinnis beach - remember you can now walk down the road and across the site, you don't have to climb up and down the steps.

(Go to our Public Access page for more details and background)

 

 
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