Summary of public meeting

• A public meeting was held at Galmpton and Hope village hall on 6th August at 7.00 p.m. A powerpoint was presented by Dave Clarke (DC), Chairman of The Harbour Commissioners and Graham Phillips (GP), Chairman of The Friends of Hope Cove Harbour.

• Approximately 100 people attended the presentation which was well received, and there was very positive feedback, opinions and suggestions during discussion time.

• DC welcomed everybody, and outlined the constitution of the Harbour.  It is a Trust Port (like Dover) and is regulated by the Department of Transport via statutory instruments.  DC introduced the other Commissioners in attendance (Mark Long, Mark Taylor, David Morgan, Mike Williams).  He explained that the Harbour is not a charity, which is why the Friends of Hope Cove Harbour (FOHCH) (registered charity no 1178277) was registered in 2018 to act as a fundraising arm to support the work of the Harbour Commissioners.

• During recent years the Commissioners have become aware of the wear and tear on the wall which was built by local fishermen at their own expense 100 years ago.  In recent years the Commissioners engaged a marine structural engineering company to survey and report on the state of the breakwater, including 5 possible options to protect it for the future.  

• The Commissioners then engaged TDA (an economic development company wholly owned by Torbay Council) to project manage the solutions and prepare a business case for consideration, having been made aware that the expected ‘life' of the breakwater could be just 34 years. TDA have done similar works along the south coast and in Torbay Harbour.

• DC introduced GP to talk through the powerpoint of TDA's findings/recommendations.

• After summarising the history of the breakwater, GP explained that the Commissioners have narrowed down the 5 options to 2:

• Option 1 - an offshore reef approx 50m offshore from the breakwater from Shippen Rock to Barney Bank (bottom image on photo below). Cost £5-6m.

• Option 2 - rock armouring the current wall with approximately 3000 tonnes of rock, each rock 10 tonnes+ (far right image on photo below). Cost £1-2m.

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• DC explained the Commissioners' reasonings for their preferred option:

• Option 1 - 

• Pros: greater longevity, ease of construction

• Cons: site of reef is not within harbour boundary; very substantial costs (£5/6m); low likelihood of successfully achieving necessary licensing in marine environment; unknown risk of trapping seaweed in lagoon between wall and reef causing possible health hazard.

• Option 2 - 

• Pros: tried and tested method in other harbours; greater likelihood of licensing and planning permission success; lower cost; within remit of Harbour lease.

• Cons: harder to access at low tides (needed to do works); may impair ability to repair existing wall in the future; may not have same longevity as a secondary reef.

• The Commissioners' recommendation was for Option 2. 

• The public were asked for their support by way of a show of hands, and a strong majority voted for Option 2.  DC confirmed that the Commissioners will discuss and adopt this option at their next meeting, and thanked those attending for their support and interest.
  
  Fundraising

• In 2018 FOHCH applied for a £500k grant from the then Coastal Communities Fund. We were unsuccessful but encouraged to apply in 2021, but unfortunately this fund has ceased to exist.  Various local organisations have raised funds, particularly the hospitality industry, and along with other contributors there is currently about £50k in the bank.

• Like the fishermen of 100 years ago it looks like the village is going to have to fund works.  It is appreciated that the bulk of funds will come from grants, corporate donations, government and/or local authority money, NGOs, charitable donations, local businesses and individuals. 

• FOHCH have had early conversations with a number of organisations including: the Environment Agency (EA); South West Water (SWW); the Marine Management Organisation (MMO); Coastal Communities Team; AONB; National Trust; South West Footpath Association; Crown Estate; SW Local Enterprise Partnership (now Heart of SWLEP); Strategic Economic Plan; Coastal Communities Alliance; National England Reed Beds; Devon CC; SHDC; English Heritage; and others.

• All these bodies were supportive but needed clarity on the project (i.e. which option), a business plan and a fundraising budget (all of which can now (or shortly will) be provided). Many of them were impressed that a project of this size was pro-actively being considered by locals rather than a local authority or national organisation. The business plan put together by TDA will be an important part of any grant applications.

• There are many dependents on the Harbour including local community, SW Coast Path, tourism, leisure activities, commercial fishing, lifeboat facility, SWW pumping station.

• Our former MP Anthony Mangnall engaged on our behalf with the MMO, SWW and the Environment Agency and had high hope of accessing government sources.  Caroline Voaden, our new MP, has shown great interest, has been to visit us and pledged to do all she can to help.
  
  Next Steps

• Once the Commissioners have formally adopted Option 2, planning permission, MMO and EA licensing and modelling need to be undertaken. GP explained that this is known as the Concordat.  TDA have estimated that the costs of the concordat will be approximately £150,000. 

• Options for funding the concordat and future build were discussed.

• The building of the rock armour would take 6-8 weeks (weather permitting) would be done in May/June (before the summer) and all materials would come in by sea on barges.

• So, the steps are: 

1. Apply for the concordat (will take 9-12 months)

2. Raise £2million to build it (to include contingency and inflation - the Environment Agency said that they add up to 50% contingency to any project they undertake)

3. And finally, the easy bit - build it!