HAVE YOUR SAY - local residents and businesses invited to shape Looe Flood Defence and Regeneration Scheme

• Friday 29th April- 10:00-12:00 and 15.00-19.00 drop-in design workshop sessions (open to all)
• Saturday 30th April- 10.00-15.00 drop-in design workshop sessions (open to all)
• Tuesday 3rd May – 18:00 online design workshop sessions (zoom link )

Looe residents and businesses are being invited to help shape the Flood Defence and Regeneration Scheme to ensure that it meets the needs of the wider community.

Looe is the most frequently flooded coastal town in the UK, with flood waters causing £39m of damage to homes and businesses here between 2013-2017 (Source: CDC Business Survey – 2017).

Over the next 100 years, sea levels are predicted to rise by more than 1 metre as a result of climate change, threatening even more parts of the town.

(image shows Looe quayside showing tidal flood levels for the present day, and in the future.)

The aim of the scheme, led by Cornwall Council with Looe Harbour Commissioners , the Environment Agency and Looe Town Council, is to protect Looe from frequent and severe flooding and damage over the next 100 years to give time for the community to adapt to a changing climate; support the regeneration of the town and the wider South East Cornwall economy, and help deliver new and improved rail, road, ferry, cycling and walking links at the same time as maintaining the overall environmental integrity of designated sites and water bodies.

You can view a short film about the scheme here

In November 2021 the project team shared some initial ideas about the potential solutions.

Now the team are looking to build on the support from local residents and businesses to help shape the next phase of the scheme with a series of design workshops taking place at the end of April.

These will focus on looking at proposals for modifying and extending the Banjo Pier, and constructing a breakwater, as well as exploring priority objectives for the town, including:

• access for tripping boats and coastal ferries
• to increase trading potential in the town
• views and the setting of the harbour
• sheltering for boats when the barrier is closed
• the marine environment, including sea grass and other habitats
• carbon footprint of the scheme and net zero
• costs and timescales

Those attending the events will be split into small groups where they will be asked to share their thoughts on the emerging proposals and the priorities for the scheme. They will also hear from members of the technical team on the work which has been carried out so far.

All three workshop sessions (Friday, 29 April 10:00-12:00 and 15.00-19.00, Saturday 30 April 10.00 to 15.00 and Tuesday 3 May 18.00 ) are open to all.

While people will be able to drop into the workshops on the day, the project team are inviting people to sign up in advance if possible using this short form to enable the team to make the necessary arrangements.

The online session on 3 May will be carried out via zoom. Those interested in taking part are asked to provide their details by registering here beforehand so they can be sent joining instructions.

Following the events details of the workshops will be made available on the Let’s Talk site: https://letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk/ for anyone who is unable to unable to attend. People can share their experiences of flooding in Looe or give their views via the website or by emailing LooeFloodDefence@cornwall.gov.uk

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Notes to editors

Looe is a key tourist destination and a thriving fishing port. 65% of businesses in the town are regularly flooded, with £39m of damage in the period 2013 – 2017 (Source: Business Survey – Cornwall Development Company). The impact of climate change will increase the area at risk of flooding from 2.5 hectares to 16 hectares. This flood prone area includes the local GP surgery, police station, main food stores and cafes, as well as the fish market and potentially the fire station, together with the more than 200 homes and businesses which are currently affected.

Tourism is worth around £47.8m to the local economy, directly supporting more than 1,100 jobs in Looe and indirectly supporting a further 400 jobs. An increase in the risk of flooding could deter people from visiting the town and have an adverse impact on holiday parks, communities and businesses right across South East Cornwall.

The flood prone area also includes key transport links such as the A387 which crosses the Looe River joining West and East Looe together, and the railway station which connects the town to the mainline at Liskeard.

The structural elements currently being investigated include:

• ·A tidal barrier which will close when flooding is likely
• ·A separate low-level walkway from Pennylands to Hannafore
• ·A southern breakwater which will prevent overtopping of the tidal barrier and sea front during tidal surges, provide a shelter for vessels when the flood gates are closed and protect Hannafore Road
• An extension to the Banjo pier, creating a low water landing stage providing boat access at all states of the site
• ·A cut-off wall below East Looe promenade to prevent tidal flooding bypassing the tidal barrier.