Plan to replace beach lifesaving headquarters

People have been giving their views on plans to replace an old lifeguard station and life saving club with a new building.

Porthtowan Surf Life Saving Club has applied to Cornwall Council to demolish the clubhouse at West Beach Road and replace it with a modular building, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

It is supported by the Making Space for Sand project which is funded by Defra as part of the £200m Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme.

One comment on the plans on the council's website said: "Nearby residents, visitors and neighbouring clubs would all benefit from a building that reflects the pride the community already takes in this stretch of coastline."

A statement supporting the planning application said the existing building had "served well as a clubhouse and lifeguard station."

It added: "However, the exposed coastal location and age have taken their toll on the structure and the building is showing visible deterioration, including cracking and partial separation to part of the building fabric.

"The proposed new building will be split into two modular parts, with the northern section fronting towards the beach which will contain the lifeguard operation room and training room, with an outer decking area.

"This section will be used for toilets, storage, changing facilities, equipment storage and plant room.

"The raised level of the decking area and front section for the lifeguards is an essential addition as a lifesaving feature to ensure sightlines over the new dune layout which is being brought forward separate to this proposal."

The application has received 36 comments in support on the council's planning portal.

One comment read: "This is an investment in the social fabric of the village as much as in surf lifesaving itself."

The application also has the support of St Agnes Parish Council and Natural England.

However, the Environment Agency has said it opposes the proposal on the grounds of "insufficient information to make a determination on the flood risks posed to the site".

The project engineer responded by saying that the agency was approached on two separate occasions seeking tidal flood data but no information was provided on either occasion.

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