An event has been held to mark the completion of new flood defences for Pentewan after years of work.
Work on the £395,000 flood defence scheme to protect Pentewan Village from flooding, particularly from high tides and waves driven by storms, and the effects of climate change has now completed.
The village centre of Pentewan has been affected by flooding caused by a combination of high tides and storm waves passing up the historic harbour channel into the old harbour which has raised water levels and caused localised flooding.
The new scheme is a flood bund which has been designed to allow the community to adapt to the effects of climate change and offer increased protection for the next 30 years. The bund has been designed to protect against 1 in 30-year flood event.
The works installed a man-made sand dune structure with an impermeable granite core in the old navigation channel that ties into high ground on either side. This will prevent tidal overtopping into the harbour and protect the village.
The defences have already been tested during Storm Pierrick on the 9th April which caused significant wave action in the area, with no flooding occurring in the village.
Visiting the scheme today was local Member of Parliament Steve Double. He said:
“I am pleased to have worked with Cornwall Council, the Environment Agency, Pentewan Valley Parish Council and the wider community to help deliver this important flood defence scheme for the village. I am pleased to have been able to help lead this project, securing the funding and ensured a timely competition.”
“We have all seen times in the past where Pentewan has been overwhelmed by flooding and I hope this bund will provide more protection for the people who live, work and have businesses in the village for many years to come.”
Also on site was Pentewan’s Cornwall Councillor James Mustoe. He said:
“The delivery of these £395,000 flood defences for Pentewan was a true team effort and I’d like to thank everyone involved for working together to make these plans a reality.”
“In particular a big thank you to the landowner, Pentewan Sands Ltd for assisting with the materials and their patience throughout, and Steve Double MP, who was able to work with DEFRA to ensure these local issues got national attention, with funding being made available to protect Pentewan’s community for years to come.”
Chairman of Pentewan Valley Parish Cllr Mike Ward was present, and said:
“The storms of 2013/4 caused significant damage to the sea wall at Pentewan. Degradation has since then continued to the point where it was clear the structure would fail resulting in the loss of protection to the harbour. In 2018 having secured the support of Pentewan Sands Ltd the Parish Council asked Steve Double MP for support. Steve with the assistance of Cllr James Mustoe have chaired meetings, unlocked funding and overcome many obstacles during the complex planning process. I am pleased that we now have a completed defence protecting many properties in Pentewan from the sea for the next 50 years.”
The project to deliver the flood defence scheme has been a collaboration between Cornwall Council, the Environment Agency, Pentewan Sands Ltd and the local community. Funding has been provided from Defra Flood defence in Aid Grant, the community and contributions in kind from Pentewan Sands Ltd. Pentewan Sands Ltd, the local community & parish council have been key stakeholders throughout the project helping influence the scheme. The scheme was designed and delivered by Cormac Ltd.