Sunday 23 November 08 - 12:38
 

Marine Civils by David Foxwell

Padstow Flood Defence Repair Work to Start

The harbour walls at Padstow in the UK are being given a £1.8 million facelift as the Environment Agency, working with Royal Haskoning, starts essential repairs in the popular North Cornwall tourist spot and ancient port.

The harbour walls at Padstow in the UK are being given a £1.8 million facelift.
The harbour walls at Padstow in the UK are being given a £1.8 million facelift.

The existing tidal defence scheme of walls and a tidal gate was built in the early 1990s, which are owned and maintained by the Agency. The flood defences join on to the historic harbour walls, which are owned and maintained by Padstow Harbour Commissioners (PHC). Parts of these walls date back to the sixteenth century and are Grade II listed.

“Over the last few years there have been problems with the harbour walls collapsing. Our flood defences depend on the stability of the harbour walls and we now need to take action to ensure the integrity of the flood defences is maintained,” explained Environment Agency project manager, Fiona Geddes.

Contractor Carillion will be doing the work for the Environment Agency with consultants Royal Haskoning. Construction started in mid-September with completion planned for early summer next year.

A new 34m long wall will be built on the seaward side of the existing harbour wall from the tide gate to the main slipway in front of the North Quay Car Park. It will have a natural stone finish in keeping with the rest of the historic environment of the harbour.

While the work is being carried out the inner harbour will revert to being tidal to ensure the risk of the harbour wall collapsing is minimised to protect the construction teams.

By DAVID FOXWELL

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The harbour walls at Padstow in the UK are being given a £1.8 million facelift.

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