Sand Rails Walkway – Why the Work Was Needed

In May 2023, the lower section of the sand railway walkway near Summerleaze was closed on public safety grounds due to significant erosion caused by wave action. Inspections revealed two main issues:

• The canal wall between the walkway and the river had been weakened by wave damage, including the loss of mortar and the formation of voids (holes).
• The walkway surface itself had become uneven and unsafe, particularly for those using wheelchairs, pushchairs or with limited mobility.

Early in 2025, Cornwall Council commissioned essential repair works to stabilise the canal embankment. This included filling identified voids and repointing missing mortar along the sea wall. These initial repairs were funded through Cornwall Council’s capital maintenance budget.

What Happens Next?

Further improvement works to the walkway are now part of Future Coast Bude, supported by funding from Defra as part of the Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme (CTAP). Future Coast Bude is one of several projects across England being delivered under the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programme, managed by the Environment Agency.

The additional funding will allow:

• Resurfacing of the walkway to provide safer and more accessible access to the beach
• Preservation of key historic features where possible
• A broader review of land use along the beachfront at Crooklets and Summerleaze in light of future coastal change

Work to resurface the walkway is being carried out by Cormac, with completion expected before the 2025 summer holidays.

If you have any questions about this work, please contact: futurecoastbude@cornwall.gov.uk