It was a stunningly beautiful evening as CHAOS Community Journalist, Janice Rose, arrived at the picture-perfect location of Portscatho’s Harbour Club to attend the latest meeting of the Roseland Environment Action Community Team (REACT).
The Harbour Club was filled to capacity for the screening of a 30-minute documentary exploring the growing issue of coastal erosion and flooding in Cornwall. The film struck a chord with many, including Janice, who admitted that, despite living in Cornwall for over a decade, she hadn’t previously grasped the scale of the issue. She had witnessed cliff falls but assumed these were isolated emergencies—not symptoms of a broader, worsening problem.
With sea levels set to rise and storms growing more intense, Cornwall’s coastal communities must now face the harsh reality of what to do when—not if—erosion impacts their much-loved coastline. The decision of whether to intervene with hard engineering or to let nature take its course becomes especially difficult when homes, businesses, and public infrastructure such as footpaths are at risk. The days of ‘burying our heads in the sand’ are over—communities must now engage with the stark choices ahead.
The film highlighted Looe, on the south-east coast of Cornwall, which faces a particularly acute threat. It is currently the most frequently flooded town in the UK, experiencing around 80 flooding incidents per year. By 2080, that number is projected to rise to 180. Local businesses have shown a ‘blitz spirit’—replacing carpets overnight or asking customers to wear wellies—but such resilience is not a viable long-term strategy.
Mullion Harbour is another example with an uncertain future. Managed by the National Trust, it has been sustained through piecemeal funding over the past 15 to 20 years. However, this approach is unlikely to be viable for much longer. The question remains: do we continue propping it up, or eventually let it go?
While many communities have yet to begin these discussions, Bude is already ahead of the curve. The town has started realigning parts of its coastal path and has formed a Climate Assembly, meeting weekly with employed staff to identify priorities and explore solutions. Since 2017, Bude’s coastline has receded by approximately one metre per year. Residents acknowledge that, in 40 to 50 years, rooftops and boundary walls could be visible in the surf—a sobering testament to the need for long-term planning and, in some cases, surrender to the sea.
A lively panel discussion followed the screening, with Bill Makin (General Manager of the National Trust for mid and south-east Cornwall), Gitty Ankers (Chair of the Cornwall Community Flood Forum) and Amy Richardson (Community Engagement Officer, Cornwall Community Flood Forum).
Makin of the National Trust—which owns 35% of Cornwall’s coastline—spoke about the complexity of managing change in sensitive and much-loved places. He highlighted Godrevy, featured in the film, where serious conversations are already underway.
With over 600,000 visitors each year and only a single track leading to the beach—where once there were many—the current access road is only expected to last another five years. Relocating the road and potentially moving the car park inland into a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) raises complex questions.
With a £4.5 million cost attached, it is not a decision to be taken lightly. Bill noted: “As a conservation organisation, it’s difficult to do.”
Ankers explained how the Cornwall Community Flood Forum, managed by the Environment Agency and funded by DEFRA, works with communities to explore a range of solutions—from hard engineering defences to softer, nature-based approaches.
Emphasising that every community will have different priorities, and hard engineering can sometimes just move the problem elsewhere or prove prohibitively expensive, she posed a crucial question to the audience: “What do local communities actually want? Is the goal to preserve everything at all costs, or is it better to let some things go?”
Communities may need to reflect on their expectations. Is it really necessary to have car parks right on the beach? Or could they be moved inland, with new infrastructure such as shuttle buses providing continued access while better adapting to the changing environment?
Ankers also highlighted how increasingly intense and sporadic rainfall affects places like Truro: “With too many houses and too much concrete, the roads now act as rivers—as is the case in Truro.”
Richardson, meanwhile, spoke about the Making Space for Sand project, which opens up dialogue with communities about what they want to do—or not do—and helps to facilitate vital Community Adaptation Plans. She stressed that raising awareness and education are key components of climate resilience.
Makin advised that the much-loved Pendower site, managed by the National Trust, is part of this project. Both locals and visitors will be aware of the visible coastal erosion around Carne. Scientific research is currently informing decision-making in the area, but Bill acknowledged that these decisions will be difficult and not universally popular. He emphasised the need for a ‘joined-up approach between councils and voluntary bodies’ as essential to managing the situation effectively.
The evening was brought to a close by Simon Perry, Vice Chair of REACT, who encouraged interested individuals to get involved and take an active role in the conversation within their own communities. One thing is certain: the time for a ‘wait and see’ approach is over—we must take our heads out of the sand. Climate change is happening and it is visibly affecting Cornwall’s coastline. These conversations are vital and must take place now, in a timely and proactive manner, rather than during moments of crisis.
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