Council chiefs accused of burying their heads in the sand following major cliff collapse

COUNCIL chiefs have been accused of burying their heads in the sand following a major cliff collapse in Newquay, which could cost millions of pounds to clear and make safe.

Frustrated homeowners impacted after a large section of cliff came away along North Quay Hill claim they have not heard anything from Cornwall Council since the incident happened on January 31 despite repeatedly emailing, writing letters and telephoning the authority.

They would like to settle a dispute over who is responsible for paying to reinforce the cliff and remove the tonnes of debris from the South West Cliff Path, which the council has closed to the public for safety reasons.

The residents argue it’s not their responsibility as they are not the landowner but Newquay central Cornwall councillor Joanna Kenny states the landslide was on privately owned land so the unitary authority has “few powers to interfere.”

Cllr Kenny states council officers have warned the property owners there is a risk of further collapse and provided advice but “have not heard anything further.”

Mayor Drew Creek believes Cornwall Council should step in to break the stalemate as the South West Coast Path is a “lifeline for Newquay's off-season economy.” Concerns have also been raised residents or someone venturing within the fenced off area could be killed if there is a further cliff collapse unless the area is stabilised.

Christopher Bennetts, who lives in King Edward Cresent with his mother Annabelle, lost part of their back garden following the cliff collapse while the rockfall narrowly missed Lucia Humphries’s house below.

Christopher said: “The council knows who owns the cliff. The cliff is not ours. They maintain it and if we wanted to do anything with the cliff they would stop us. Our boundary finishes at the fence line.

“The council has responsibility over safety when a cliff is over a public right of way. They should pay for the work to be carried out. If the council just removes the debris, I think it would pull more of our land down. They would have to put something solid at the bottom. It would be a major operation. The cliff also needs bolted geotechnical mesh stabilisation works. It will cost millions of pounds to do that along the cliff as I believe its £1,400 a square metre. I’m not an expert surveyor but a professional report has been sent to the council.

“The land washed away underneath and pulled part of my land down. The cliff face is soily and when it gets wet it turns to liquid. That’s when you get a cliff fall. The rain and wind eroded the cliff and left an overhang, which collapsed and undermined my property. It is private land by an ill maintained cliff face. Then the council tries to blame the private property owner.

“The council knows what to do. They just do not want to do it because the council budget has been cut so much.”

Annabelle added: “The council stating they have not heard from us is wrong. We have phoned, emailed and written to them but they’ve not replied once. The only time I’ve managed to speak to the council was when the cliff collapse happened.

“We’ve also written to the South West Coast Path to try and stir the council up but have still not heard anything.

“Lucia and I tell each other when we have contacted the council. She has contacted the council on several occasions. The last time was in August when she sent an urgent email but she’s also had no response. Lucia and her property are in danger if the cliff collapses further. Our lives are not at risk as our house is further back and it’s on solid rock.

“All it needs is a good storm and the situation will get worse. There could be someone underneath when the cliff collapses again because the fences are not stopping people getting in there. The fence is broken. The council is just waiting for us to sort it out but we can’t afford to do that.”

Resident Emma Goldy, who lives at King Edward Crescent, has campaigned to Cornwall Council for 13 years to make the cliff safe.

She lost part of her garden following a major cliff collapse in 2020. Her property is now stable after the council contributed towards stabilisation works after using solicitors and geotechnical engineers to prove the cliff is unsafe. She argues the authority is putting lives at risk by not taking further action.

Emma said: “The cliff collapses every year. It has been proven by geotechnical engineers that the cliff is not stable. The council has all the reports and evidence of this. They were told that the cliff was likely to collapse again, putting people at risk. Pictures prove that the bottom of the cliff was already crumbling before the cliff gave way, and the land above went down with the failed cliff.

“The council said it is not their land when the cliff collapsed under my property. They were proven wrong. The council is not correct.

“It is not the homeowner’s responsibility. It is the council’s responsibility to maintain the coast path and the highway, which includes the cliff. Cornwall Council know this through reports from solicitors and their legal team, with evidence from land registry and specialist reports. The council’s advice to the homeowners, was not to use the garden. The homeowners have sent several emails to Cornwall Council and the highways manger and have had no reply.”

Cllr Joanna Kenny stated the council is looking at “options” to re-open the South West Coast Path.

She said: “The landslide above the Fly Cellars is on privately owned land so Cornwall Council has few powers to interfere. The council provided some advice to the owners but have not heard anything further. Obviously, it is not ideal that the South West Coast Path or its new name King Charles III England Coast Path is closed. Officers are looking to see if they have any options. The council is responsible for the Fly Cellars and they are looking to put better fencing there.

“This was a landslide, not a cliff fall, presumably brought on by the torrential rain we got last winter. There has to be a real concern for the stability of the privately owned properties in the immediate neighbourhood if the land slips again. Council officers have warned the property owners there that there is a risk.”

Mayor Cllr Creek argues Cornwall Council should take responsibility to get the coast path re-opened and the cliff stabilised as soon as possible.

Cllr Creek said: “This should be a no-brainer. The South West Coast Path is a lifeline for Newquay's off-season economy and one of the things that makes our town special. Eight months on from the landslip above the Fly Cellars, the path is still closed and being buried. Nearby homes are at risk, and the official answer appears to be: 'not our land, not our problem.'

“That isn't leadership, it's a shrug. Any councillor telling residents nothing can be done should be spending that energy finding out what can be done. The coast path is a public right of way.

“Keeping it open, and keeping people safe, is exactly what the public expects their council to take responsibility for, whoever owns the land.

“Cornwall Council should stop hiding behind land ownership and start acting, get the landowner, residents, Natural England in a room, get engineers on site, clear the path, ensure it’s safe, and set out a timetable for reopening.

“If that means using enforcement or emergency powers, so be it. Every week this drags on is another week of lost visitors, damage to Newquay's reputation and worry for the families living below that slope. When people see public bodies wash their hands of crumbling infrastructure, it's no wonder they lose faith in politics. Newquay deserves better, and I won't let this one drop nor will fellow town councillors.”

Town councillor Steve Slade added: “It is appalling the coast path is still closed. Cornwall Council should be working to get the path open and stable. The excuse of it’s not our land, not our problem is not acceptable.

“There is a trend of Newquay losing our coastline and Cornwall Council doing little or nothing to save it. Whipsiderry beach is still closed, the Glendorgal headland path closed off, and the coast path from the Fly Cellars to the Huers Hut is buried. Cornwall Council needs to deal urgently with our diminishing coastline and we should expect our coastal Cornwall councillors to ensure they do.”