Outcome of Trust/Talking Party Meeting

A preliminary meeting between Alastair Cameron of the National Trust and some volunteer 'talking party' members, was held last night in the church room, Perranuthnoe.

The emphasis for the meeting was to ascertain exactly what people wanted to be done at Boat Cove.

It has been well and truly establish that everyone wants Boat Cove to remain a usable amenity for local people. The Trust are in agreement with this and prepared to work with us, the local community.
Thanks go out to everyone for taking the time to sign the petition and offer support.

If Boat Cove is to remain a usable amenity two things have to be addressed, the slip and the shed.

The shed is needed to store boat and fishing gear and has a great appeal and history behind it. Unfortunately it is very dilapidated and now actually overhanging the cliff.

The question is, what can be done about it? Suggestions raised at the meeting were as follows;

1. Shore it up
This was the most popular as everyone likes the shed just the way/where it is.
Things to take into account are the costs which would be astronomical and with rising sea levels and erosion how much longer would it last? Would it be worth it?

2. Drag it back
The second most popular was to drag the whole shed back a few yards away from the cliff edge and repair it.
Things to take into account are; Can it be done and what would be involved? Would the shed stand up to moving it?

3. Knock down and not replace
Not an option, or is it? Could be seen as a natural demise with a little help at the end for health and safety reasons.

4. Knock down and replace with new
Considerations with this one were; What will the new shed look like? Will it be wood? Will it be stone? Where will it go? Could parts of the old shed be incorporated in to the new one? How big should it be?

5. Keep old shed and build new one
This option involves sealing the shed and preserving it where it stands. Maybe have some history boards on it with information and pictures of now and then.
Considerations are; The shed is overhanging the cliff, very dangerous for anyone walking on the beach should it fall. How long before it does fall? It will have to be repaired and made secure as bits come off it in heavy winds, another danger for anyone passing.

The slip is needed to launch boats and as a means to get equipment to and from the shed. It is not really necessary for access to the beach as there is another way down and the Trust have already said they will provide steps.

So what where the ideas for the slip;

1. Make it safe and insurable
What would this involve? Can it be done?

2. Build a new one
Whats needed? Do we need hand rails? how wide will it have to be? what will it look like? should it be wood? metal? should it be fixed or movable?
To bring boats up it will have to be around 6-7 feet wide. To make it movable it would have to be very light.

3. Do away with it
The Trust will provide steps to access the cove. Boats can be launched from elsewhere and brought round to the cove. The problem is with the boat and fishing gear. The equipment is heavy and to try and walk across pebbles and rocks then up steps could prove a bit too much and so defeating the object of keeping Boat Cove a usable amenity.

There is a lot to consider and sort out including Planning and, Health and Safety issues. Alastair Cameron has said that the Trust will get a risk assessment done, he will arrange for a Health and Safety Officer to visit and will get the planning side looked in to as well as getting a building surveyor in for our best options.

From the community side, views and comments are needed on the suggestions put forward.
To be able to work with the National Trust we, as a community need to get organised. Communication is a key issue.
There are a lot of people to which Boat Cove is important. To keep all those people informed and up to date as well as letting everyone have their say will prove costly and time consuming.

The modern world revolves around modern technology, it's quick and effective as well as being more environmentally friendly.
This website is a good place to start. It enables everyone to be able to voice their opinions and read the opinions of others. If Boat Cove is important to you and you have access to a computer please use modern technology and go ahead and make your comments on the issues raised. If you have no access to a computer then you can phone me on 01736 710565 and I will publish your comments for you. This will enable us, as a community to get organised and really get to grips with what is wanted/needed. All final decisions can then be made face to face with the knowledge and piece of mind that it is a whole community decision.

It has been suggested that a 'Boat Cove Association' be formed to fulfill the needs of now and the future. Again, comments on this are needed.

Go ahead, click on 'comments' below and do your bit. Lots of people have offered support, this is the next step, actually giving it.

National Trust Notes On Meeting