PEOPLE in Looe are being asked to contribute information which will help with planning the town’s flood defence scheme.

Detailed designs for an outer harbour, tidal gate and other measures are currently being developed.

The project will cost in the region of £70million and a bid will be made for Government money once a business case has been prepared. It is hoped that construction could begin in 2024.

Cornwall Council and its partners are producing a regular newsletter with updates on the scheme’s progress, and the second of these has just been published.

The newsletter, and a website (https://

letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk/looe-proposed-flood-defence-scheme) contain detailed information and background about the project, as well as answers to frequently asked questions posed by local people.

“The last few weeks have been extremely busy as we have been working to carry out tests and surveys and develop the design based on feedback received,” said a spokesperson for the Looe Flood Defence project team.

“While Looe currently experiences numerous incidents of significant flooding each year, we know that the frequency and severity of the floods will increase with climate change. Current research suggests that flood depths of over 900mm, which are relatively rare now, would be expected to occur annually by 2080 if nothing is done.”

In recent weeks, the team has met with the Environment Agency and other partners, as well as providing a briefing to MP Sheryll Murray and Secretary of State for the Environment George Eustice.

A detailed assessment of the harbour carried out earlier this year found the structure to be in very good condition for its age – good news for the engineers who now know they have a strong foundation to start from.

“Work has also been taking place to develop a 3D model to support the development of the design. We are currently developing a number of wave models, so we can look in detail at the impact of different wave conditions on different breakwater layouts.

“We are also studying the effects on water quality and on levels of sediment and impacts on the protected species. This includes assessing potential locations for the flood gates.”