A second demonstration against the cliff at Whipsiderry Beach being concreted was held on Thursday.

More than 150 people gathered to attend the Save Whipsiderry Cliffs protest to highlight the “desecration” and “destruction” of the natural environment, wild bird and mammal habitat.

They waved various placards, which included ‘Save Our Wildlife,’ ‘No More Greed, Save Whipsiderry’ and ‘Save the Cliffs and Wildlife.’

Organisers called on people to help halt the cliff reinforcement works taking place, which are needed to enable seven luxury villas to be built on the clifftop above at the former Paradise Cover Hotel.

They want to disrupt the works until March 31 as that is the point at which the developer will have to stop work due to the bird nesting season.

The Save Whipsiderry Cliffs protest group hope that will buy them time to persuade the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to withdraw the licence to carry out the cliff works.

Children made their voices heard at the protest (Warren Wilkins)

Tensions boiled just prior to the demonstration taking place with a security staff being involved in a scuffle with a protestor.

Eco warriors were also removed from the site by security on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Lyndsey Young from Save Whipsiderry Cliffs said: “Ultimately we are trying to halt the works.

“They have to complete the works by March 31 and we can then get professional help to go through the process to get the MMO to withdraw the licence.

“We want to protect the natural environment because the only winners out of this are the developers and the contractors.

“Over the last two weeks, the public have had a continuous presence on the beach, and hundreds of members of the public have reported to the MMO breaches of licence conditions and additional environmental and ecological evidence for the MMO to consider. 

“We understand there are ongoing conversations, between various professional bodies and the MMO and Cornwall Council, which are covering geological concerns.

“The cliffs are home to nesting fulmars, bats and Cornish choughs, which are a protected species.

“However the destructive work is being allowed to continue, which to date has involved the lowering a JCB and other machinery down a crumbling 200 foot cliff, by crane onto a beach owned by the Duchy Of Cornwall over members of the public and workers. 

“Drilling and excavating the caves, making the cliffs even more unstable. 

“Distributing rock and debris around the beach and drilling steel rods five metres into the caves.

“Our primary aim is to persuade the MMO to halt the works, so the additional evidence supplied by the public and professional bodies can be considered, and for the MMO to withdraw the licence based on this evidence. 

“The Cornwall Council planning department appear to have washed their hands of this, even though the live planning application is 16-years-old.”

Protestor Leah Steward added: “As time has gone on people’s passions have been coming out and they are not backing down from this.

“They thought our little protest would be over after a couple of days but we will not disappear as feelings are strong.”

St Columb Minor Cornwall councillor John Fitter said: “It has been a brilliant demonstration once again of community support to protect this vital asset for the community of Cornwall and the UK.

“Once it is gone it is gone forever. We need to protect it and every success to them.”