Walkers and members of community pressure group CarlyonBayWatch last week maintained a time honoured local tradition of completing the circular walk along the beaches at Carlyon Bay. The group of keen walkers set off from the Oak tree on Beach road at noon on 14th October. They progressed down through the construction site barrier to join the South West Coast path above the old Coliseum site, hoping to reach Fishing Point and double back along the shoreline in time to catch the low tide for their return along the beach.
One of the walkers and spokespeople for the group, Barry Squires, remarked;
"We had begun to feel that this circular walk - a pleasure the local community has trodden as a right - was falling out of popularity because of the obstacles now in the way of it. We felt we had to test local reports that the route was becoming impassable owing to sand scour at the eastern end and see if the signs warning against the risks of being trapped by the sea by the metal piling at certain times was indeed a valid concern."
The walk, which takes under an hour and passes some spectacular views of the Bay, has been enjoyed by locals for decades in living memory but has recently become more of a challenge. Development company Ampersand, who aquired the site of the old Coliseum in 2002, closed the main access route down onto the beach to the public in January last year. The addition of sheet metal piling, dubbed 'the Iron Curtain, along most of the length of the beaches has meant that there is now little foreshore remaining to walkers and beach goers except at low tide.
Mr Squires adds; "It is the loss of the beach at high tide which gives us particular concern. It was a pleasant day with a low tide and our group decided to take the circular walk to test the water. After we had successfully exercised our legal right to pass through the barrier and join the cliff path, the next challenge was the route down through the scrub to Fishing Point. There is a drop at beach level which is probably only for the more intrepid walker, but we all climbed down without too much trouble. I think everyone enjoyed the walk and we plan to make it a regular event." ENDS.
Editors Notes;
CarlyonBayWatchwas formed as an umbrella group covering various residents associations in the area, in response to concerns about the holiday development to be built across Crinnis, Polgaver and Shorthorn beaches. A selection of members have been meeting regularly with representatives of the development company, Ampersand, since Spring 2003.
Supporting Groups English Nature, Friends of the Earth, The Cornwall Wildlife Trust, The Campaign for the Preservation of the Rural Environment, The Environment Agency, Cornwall County Council, Charlestown School have either raised objections, or called for further information relating to the impact of the project. At the demonstration on 28th February CBW expect to be joined by members of The Campaign for the Preservation of Rural England, The Celtic League, The St Austell Civic Society and The Ramblers Association, among others.
Petition In July 2003, CarlyonBayWatch delivered a petition of 929 signatures to the Government Office of the South West at Plymouth, calling for the matter to be referred to a full Public Enquiry. We are still waiting for the decision on this.
Village Green Application On 04/07/03 a member of CarlyonBayWatch provided evidence and made application to register the land being known as Carlyon Bay, including Crinnis, Shorthorn and Polgaver Beaches as a Village Green under the Commons Registration Act. This area of land consists of heath land at the base of the cliffs and beaches.
EvidenceThe main body of evidence for the application includes over 300 witness evidence statements attesting to over 20 years constant usage of the beach for purposes legal Sports and Pastimes in support of an Application for the registration of land which became a Town or Village Green after 2nd of January 1970. The evidence also includes numerous old Tithe and Mining Maps, correspondence, photographs and extracts from text and local information booklets. This application has been registered as duly made and has entered the consultation process.
Web site CBW web site was launched in September 2003 and has had a tremendous 29,000 hits to date. Following reports in the National press we continue to receive emails from across the country from ex-residents and holiday visitors alike, supporting our campaign.
Wildlife Cornwall Wildlife Trust has identified Shorthorn Beach, the middle beach of the 3 beaches which make up Carlyon Bay Beach, as a site of national importance. It is one of only 2 places in Cornwall which are home to a pretty and unusual, nationally notable Moth, the Cream-bordered Green Pea Moth. These are just some of the uncommon coast-plants that still survive along the beach; Common Fleabane, Evening Primrose, Frosted orache, Mossy stonecrop, Samphire, Scentless Mayweed, Sea Plantain, Sea Rocket, Sea Sandwort, Seaside centaury, Shrubby sea-blite.
Permissions At the time of writing, and without prejudice, we are trying to establish the precise nature of any permissions and authorisations which are in place for this current closure of the beach. Whilst a section of the road leading down to the beach may or may not enjoy private status, it is no more private than Cypress Avenue or Sea Road, all of which pedestrians have used for over a 100 years.