John Martin has just completed a new wave break to protect the RNLI lifeboat berth at Walton and Frinton in Essex and has begun consultations with local residents at Padstow. The new facility will be next to the existing boathouse at Trevose Head and most materials will be brought in by sea to minimise road traffic. The method by which piles for the foundations are installed has been redesigned to make the process as quiet as possible.

John Martin's Padstow site agent Richard Hayman said, 'The site does present us with some technical and logistical difficulties, but we are rising to the challenge and believe the finished boathouse and slipway will be something Padstow can be proud of and which will give many years of service to the RNLI.'

The RNLI considered redesigning the existing lifeboat house but decided that matching 1960s technology with contemporary building constraints could have led to expensive complications.

The RNLI's Shoreworks Manager Howard Richings said, 'The design of the Padstow lifeboat house is unique. The designers and consulting engineers, Haskoning UK, along with project architects Poynton Bradbury Wynter Cole of St Ives have come up with a distinctive shape, one that will rest well against the imposing cliffs at Trevose Head. This is an interesting location to build in and it will set us a number of challenges, but I am confident we will finish up with a superb facility in 18 months time.'

The existing Padstow lifeboat house was opened in 1967 and has housed two all weather lifeboats. The Oakley class James and Catherine McFarlane and the current Tyne class James Burrough have saved some 200 lives. Padstow's new Tamar class lifeboat is due to arrive next year.

MJ Information No: 20301