A £2.1m project to restore Polperro’s historic outer harbour pier gets underway this week having secured £1.4m of funding from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme.
The funding adds to £450,000 from the Environment Agency, £49,000 from the South West Regional Flood and Coastal Committee Local Levy, and £55,000 from the Polperro Harbour Trust, which is managing the project as owners of the pier.
The Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall Pier – known locally as the Prince of Wales Pier – was originally constructed in 1862. It provides essential protection to Polperro’s iconic inner harbour, fishing boats and flood gate, enabling a thriving harbour economy. It also is used for mooring at low water and is popular with residents and visitors for swimming, angling and relaxation.
The Pier is currently in very poor condition due to many years of storm damage and work needs to start immediately. The project will entail strengthening the existing structure and constructing a concrete jacket on the seaward faces as additional protection.
Peter Hickey, chair of the Polperro Harbour Trust, said: “The Trustees are very pleased to have secured Good Growth funding and look forward to working with all parties to a safe and successful completion of the project”.
The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme is a three-year £137m local investment fund managed by Cornwall Council and funded through the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. More than £47m of Good Growth funding has been earmarked for investment in communities and places across Cornwall and Scilly.
Cllr Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council portfolio holder for economy, said: “This significant investment from the Good Growth Programme ensures the preservation of Polperro’s historic inner harbour, a cornerstone of our maritime heritage and a vital part of the local economy. By securing this funding, we're not only protecting the harbour, but also homes, businesses and the livelihoods it supports, while ensuring that future generations can enjoy this iconic landmark.”
Cornwall Cllr Jim Candy; Cornwall Cllr Armand Toms; James Lockyer, Consultant Civil Engineer to Polperro Harbour Trust; Peter Hickey, Chair Polperro Harbour Trust; Mark Hedges from contractors TMS Ltd and Lilly-Mae Nennstiel, TMS Ltd on the Prince of Wales Pier at Polperro.
Local Cornwall Councillor Jim Candy added: “Credit needs to go to Cllr Armand Toms who was covering Polperro when our late colleague Edwina Hannaford was ill before my election in April, and Peter Hickey and the rest of the Harbour Trustees for their persistence in getting the funding package in place. I am glad that this heritage asset which protects the harbour and village from storms will be strengthened and preserved.”
The start of the project has also been welcomes by South East Cornwall MP Anna Gelderd, who said: “I am delighted that funding has been secured for this vital project. By restoring and enhancing coastal defences, we are preserving not only our harbour, but also our heritage for future generations. This is a significant step in protecting Polperro and our local fishing industry, reflecting the government’s commitment to supporting our rural and coastal communities and ensuring the resilience of our coastal infrastructure. I look forward to this project progressing and continuing to work with national and local government to deliver for South East Cornwall.”
The Good Growth Programme provided some initial funding of £11,910 from its Community Capacity Fund to the Polperro Harbour Trust to assist them in appointing a structural engineer to design the necessary repairs and prepare a further funding bid.
The Trust has spent £55,000 from its emergency reserve fund that it is seeking to replace through crowdfunding and local fund-raising activities. It will be posting regular updates on www.polperroharbourtrust.org which also contains details of the fundraising page.
The main contractor on the project is Teignmouth Maritime Services Ltd (TMS) with design and supervision by Binnies Civil Engineers supported by James Lockyer Associates. Work is expected to complete in the Spring of 2025.
The construction activities will involve some disruption around the Harbour. Working platforms will be erected adjacent to the Pier and in the inner harbour. Some of the equipment and materials will be delivered by sea with the remainder through the village and transported by raft through the Harbour. TMS will ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum.
The Good Growth Programme has also provided a total of £122,000 towards the Polperro Big Green project which is transforming an underused space in the heart of the village into an attractive community space.
Find out more about the Good Growth programme
ENDS
Posted 24 September 2024