Newquay Barrowfields

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Cliff-Top Fencing Replacement

On behalf of Cornwall Council, Cormac is replacing and re-aligning the deteriorating cliff-top fence at Barrowfields. This will improve public safety in the face of ongoing coastal erosion.

The existing softwood fence has reached the end of its life and is too close in places to the eroding cliff edge. The new fence will be set back further inland and will be made using durable recycled plastic posts with a 25-30 year lifespan. This will create a safer coastal path inside the fence.

The project has been developed in close consultation with Historic England and the Cornwall Archaeological Unit. The revised fence alignment avoids direct impact on the scheduled Bronze Age barrows. This means no formal Scheduled Monument Consent is required for the works. Erosion patches near the barrows will be monitored for a year post-installation, with potential for a full site Conservation Management Plan to address long-term care (footfall, vegetation, events).

User survey

If you use Barrowfields, please complete our short user survey. We would love to hear how you use Barrowfields and how you would like it to be maintained.


Cliff-Top Fencing Replacement

On behalf of Cornwall Council, Cormac is replacing and re-aligning the deteriorating cliff-top fence at Barrowfields. This will improve public safety in the face of ongoing coastal erosion.

The existing softwood fence has reached the end of its life and is too close in places to the eroding cliff edge. The new fence will be set back further inland and will be made using durable recycled plastic posts with a 25-30 year lifespan. This will create a safer coastal path inside the fence.

The project has been developed in close consultation with Historic England and the Cornwall Archaeological Unit. The revised fence alignment avoids direct impact on the scheduled Bronze Age barrows. This means no formal Scheduled Monument Consent is required for the works. Erosion patches near the barrows will be monitored for a year post-installation, with potential for a full site Conservation Management Plan to address long-term care (footfall, vegetation, events).

User survey

If you use Barrowfields, please complete our short user survey. We would love to hear how you use Barrowfields and how you would like it to be maintained.


  • What is the new fence going to look like?

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    The existing fence is 1.2m high and is constructed of PVC-coated chainlink mesh secured to timber posts throughout.

    The new fence will be similar, but with some notable changes:

    • Most of the posts (all except the larger corner/strainer posts) will be made of a recycled plastic containing composite. This has significantly greater lifespan and does not contain the preservative products found in treated timber.
    • Some sections will be brought in-land slightly (by several metres). This is in response to on-site guidance and recommendations following a survey of the cliffs, and national forecasts for cliff erosion monitoring.
    • Where the new fence blocks off the path at the west (Tolcarne) end, a replacement path will be cut alongside the fence to allow continuity.
    • Sections which will then be immediately next to the newly surfaced path (opposite Clarendon Court and at the Lusty Glaze end) will be at an increased height of 1.4m, to reduce risk to cyclists.
    • See the detailed map for full details.


    The replacement fence will be similar to the one at Tolcarne shown here - however we shall use brown posts as opposed to black posts.



Page published: 12 Mar 2026, 10:34 AM