Local residents and businesses invited to hear latest update on Looe Flood Defence and Regeneration Scheme
- 2pm to 6pm Thursday, 20 October
- 10 am to 4pm on Friday, 21 October
- 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday, 22 October.
Looe residents and businesses are being invited to three community drop in events being held in the town in October to hear about the progress being made with the development of the Looe Flood Defence and Regeneration scheme and to give their views on materials for the proposed structures.
The events will take place at the West Looe Centre. Further details will be available on the Let’s Talk site: https://letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk/looe-flood-defence and in the local media in the coming days.
Looe is already the most frequently flooded coastal town in the UK. 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. These include the health centre, the police and fire stations, main food stores and cafes and the fish market, as well as major transport links such as the A387 and the railway station.
Following the engagement events held earlier this year, members of the project team have reviewed the feedback provided by members of the public and local businesses on the draft plans.
The aim of these next events is to enable people to hear about the story so far and give an update on progress and options considered, and to provide an opportunity to input into finishes and materials.
All three sessions will be drop in events which will be open to all. As before members of the project team will be on hand to provide the latest information and answer any questions.
As well as the face-to-face events on 20, 21 and 22 October, there will also be an online event on 31st October – 18:00 start on zoom. Those interested in taking part are asked to provide their details by emailing LooeFloodDefence@wsp.com beforehand so they can be sent joining instructions.
The team are also exploring how they can work with Cornwall’s artist community to design installations which celebrate Looe and can be incorporated into the final design.
As well as staging the engagement events the project team also want to hear from local businesses. Businesses are being asked to take part in a survey to help support the business case that will be submitted to the government for funding. Information and feedback from local businesses will help to demonstrate the economic benefits of the project and support the case for investment in flood defence and regeneration in Looe.
Any businesses which would like to know more or are interested in participating in the survey can contact the team at LooeFloodDefence@wsp.com.
(image shows Looe quayside showing tidal flood levels for the present day, and in the future.)
“The key aim of this scheme 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“ said Martyn Alvey, Cornwall Council’s Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change. “The scheme will also support the regeneration of the town and the wider South East Cornwall economy, and help to 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.”
“As the image above clearly shows doing nothing is not an option. We are hoping that as many people as possible will attend one of these events so we can ensure that the final Flood Defence and Regeneration Scheme meets the needs of all parts of the local community.
Ends
Notes to editors
Looe is a key tourist destination and a thriving fishing port. 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 annually 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.
