Workshop events for people in Looe to find out more about Flood Defence and Regeneration scheme
Residents and businesses in Looe are being invited to attend information sharing workshops about the Looe Flood Defence and Regeneration scheme taking place in the town on Friday, 12 and Saturday, 13 May.
The workshops will be held at the Looe Harbour Heritage Centre at The Old Sardine Factory in West Looe between 10.30 am and 3.30 pm on both days.
The aim of the events is to provide local people with a summary of the project so far, including details of the options which are being considered, and to give them the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the proposals, both with each other and with members of the project team.
Looe is already one of the most frequently flooded coastal towns in the UK. During the fortnightly spring tides the sea routinely reaches the top of the quayside walls. When a storm occurs at the same time, the water comes over the quay wall and floods the surrounding areas.
Sea levels are projected to rise more rapidly due to climate change. Environment Agency records show that currently the centre of the town typically floods four to eight times a year, putting more than 200 properties at risk. By 2050 this will rise to 60 times a year, with the risk of a 2014 type flooding event happening every year.
This means that, while the resilience of local residents may well be enough to protect the town from all but the most severe storms today, in less than 50 years most of the town will flood more often and to a greater depth, with sandbags and flood boards becoming much less effective in protecting homes and businesses.
As a result key areas, such as the health centre, the police and fire stations, the main food stores and cafes and the fish market, the main roads, the Harbour and Millpool car parks and the railway line, will be flooded on storm and high tide days.
“The impact of the significant flooding experienced in Looe at the end of March demonstrates the importance of the proposed scheme in protecting the town from the effects of climate change “said Martyn Alvey, Cornwall Council’s Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change.
“However, while survey responses and the conversations that we had with the local residents during the previous consultation highlighted support for action from many within the community, a level of confusion was also evident over the need for and benefits of the scheme, as well as concerns over some of the flood protection measures which are being proposed.
On both 12 and 13 May the presentations will run every hour, beginning at 10.30 am with the last session starting at 2.30 pm and finishing at 3.30 pm. Each 60 min slot will include the opportunity for discussion and questions.
People can either reserve a slot at a specific time on the Let’s Talk site https://letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk/looe-flood-defence
or by clicking here . Alternatively people can simply turn up at the event to listen, contribute and speak with a member of the team.
“Hearing from local businesses and the wider public is critical for finding the best solution for Looe “ said Councillor Alvey. “ We want to ensure that all members of the local community have the information that they need to form their views on the flood defences currently being considered to protect the town from avoidable flooding events for decades to come.”
Further information about the Looe Flood Defence and Regeneration Scheme, including details of the options being considered, are available on the Let’s Talk site https://letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk/looe-flood-defence
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