Final consultation events are being held in Looe to give people the opportunity to help determine which of the flood defence options will be submitted to the Government at the end of the summer. 

Six options have been considered in detail, which include adaptation of the town/community and demountable barriers, permanent flood walls, quayside extension, tidal barrier only and tidal barrier with breakwaters.

The final consultation events will be held at the Quayside Centre, West Looe between 10am and 4pm on Friday, Saturday and on Friday, July 14.

The aim of the consultation event is to provide an opportunity for the community to view the latest information on the different options, and to talk to members of the team about which option they feel will best protects the town from avoidable flooding events for decades to come. 

The feedback will then be used to finalise the Outline Business Case which will be submitted to the Government.

Looe already has an unwelcome history of flooding. During the fortnightly spring tides, the sea routinely reaches up high against the quayside walls. When a storm occurs at the same time, the water comes over the quay wall and floods the surrounding areas. Environment Agency records show that currently the centre of the town typically floods several times a year, putting more than 200 properties at risk. 

The impact of climate change, with sea levels expected to rise by over one metre during the next 100 years, means that in less than 50 years most of the town will flood more often and to a greater depth, with sandbags and flood boards becoming less effective.

This will see 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 flooded on storm and high tide days. 

Martyn Alvey Cornwall Council’s Cabinet member for environment and climate change, said: “This is a very important moment, both for the Looe Flood Defence and Regeneration scheme and for the long term future of Looe.

“Looe is already one of the most frequently flooded coastal towns in the UK and the impact of the significant flooding experienced at the end of March shows the importance of protecting the town from the effects of climate change in the future. 

“The support of local residents and businesses is vital to the success of the scheme. We want to ensure that the whole community has the opportunity to give us their views on the option they feel will best secure the environmental and economic future of their town over the next 50-100 years.”

Detailed information about all the options, including the potential benefits, challenges and costs of delivering them, together with artists impressions and a short film, is available on the scheme’s Let’s Talk site https://letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk/looe-flood-defence

The site also includes background information about the history of flooding in Looe and the environmental work which has been carried out for the project up to this date, providing a summary of some areas of interest, as well as outlining some early mitigation ideas.