A PROJECT hoping to protect the future of Bude’s sand dunes has listened to the community in an effort to maintain one of the town’s vital car parks.

The Future Coast Bude project aims to promote adaptation actions to help communities transition away from eroding coastlines. For a number of months, the project has been at the centre of discussions surrounding the future of Summerleaze Car Park, as sand continues to accumulate in the area.

Future Coast Bude has stated that the coastline at Summerleaze is evolving, and rising sea levels will increasingly place pressure on nearby buildings and the car park. Therefore, the project aims to explore future options for the area, ensuring that vital public facilities and amenities are preserved and planned for.

A spokesperson from the project explained: “One of the challenges at Summerleaze car park, owned by Cornwall Council, is the area south of the RNLI lifeboat station where dunes have been unable to establish. Because this space must remain clear for the RNLI to launch their boat, the sand is exposed to prevailing south‑westerly winds, which blow it into the car park and cause it to accumulate there.”

The sand dunes at Summerleaze are categorised as a priority habitat by the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and the Bude Neighbourhood Development Plan policy aims to 'protect and enhance' the dunes.

Previously, there have been concerns among the community that plans to allow the buildup of sand within the Summerleaze Car Park would cause a number of issue within the town.

However, following feedback from residents in an online survey, the project has adjusted its approach.

A spokesperson said: “Around half of people who responded to this survey had experienced problems caused by sand in the car park, and people felt very strongly that this wind-blown sand should be moved.

“In particular, those with disabilities were particularly affected by this sand, with it causing issues with accessing the beach.”

The project team have agreed to facilitate conversations between internal Cornwall Council teams to assess any short-term options to remove sand from the car park and reduce the amount of sand that blows there in future.

As such, the agreed proposal will see Cornwall Council Car Parks fund Cormac to clear wind-blown sand from several spaces in Summerleaze Car Park in March 2026. The work will take place after the high spring tides but before the tourist season begins. Sand will only be removed from areas where dunes are not established, ensuring that the dunes remain stable and that RNLI operations and public safety are not affected.

The cleared sand will be placed at the front of the dunes, above the high-water mark, along the exposed rock armour. This approach is considered the best way to protect existing vegetation and habitats while allowing the sand to naturally reintegrate into the dune system over time.

Sand will be cleared on a more frequent basis, for 12 months from March 2026 by Bude-Stratton Town Council facilities team, with the council being reimbursed by Cornwall Council Car Parks team.