THERE is growing support in a seaside community to demolish its old surf lifesaving club and lifeguard station building and replace it with modern new facilities.

Trustees of Porthtowan Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) have applied to Cornwall Council to demolish the clubhouse on the village’s beach at West Beach Road and replace it with a modular building.

A supporting statement says: “The existing building has served well as a clubhouse and lifeguard station. However, the exposed coastal location and age have taken their toll on the structure and the building is showing visible deterioration, including cracking and partial separation to part of the building fabric.

“The proposed new building will be split into two modular parts, with the northern section fronting towards the beach which will contain the lifeguard operation room and training room, with an outer decking area. This section will be 1.3m higher than the rear area, which will be used for toilets, storage, changing facilities, equipment storage and plant room.

“The raised level of the decking area and front section for the lifeguards is an essential addition as a lifesaving feature to ensure sightlines over the new dune layout which is being brought forward separate to this proposal.”

The replacement building is being supported by the Making Space for Sand project, funded by Defra as part of the £200m Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme, managed by the Environment Agency (EA) and delivered by Cornwall Council.

The application has currently received 36 comments in support on the council’s planning portal. One local said: “I have lived in Porthtowan for 23 years and both my children were trained in nippers and juniors. One is now a lifeguard. This is a superb club that accepts children of all abilities, champions their strengths and improves their water confidence and safety. This new facility will allow them to continue to teach the next generation in a building that is fit purpose.”

Another commented: “The club’s current facilities were never designed for the scale of activity they now host. Membership has grown steadily. A new clubhouse would give Porthtowan a proper community hub without either having to make do with cramped changing rooms, inadequate storage or a leaking roof.

“This is an investment in the social fabric of the village as much as in surf lifesaving itself. Nearby residents, visitors and neighbouring clubs would all benefit from a building that reflects the pride the community already takes in this stretch of coastline.”

The application is supported by St Agnes Parish Council and Natural England, but the EA has opposed it on the grounds of “insufficient information to make a determination on the flood risks posed to the site”.

The project engineer for the development responded that the EA was approached on two occasions seeking tidal flood data but no information was provided. The engineer argues all uses of the existing and proposed buildings are considered to be “water compatible” and entirely appropriate within all flood zones.

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For more details see planning application PA26/03474 on Cornwall Council’s planning portal.