ONLINE and face-to-face events will begin soon to bring local people up to speed with the Looe Flood Defence plans.

A significant amount of work has been going on ‘behind the scenes’ since the previous consultation, and the next steps towards a final design for the scheme are being identified, says director of infrastructure for Cornwall Council, Nigel Blackler.

Among the activities that have taken place are 24-hour monitoring of water levels with a tidal gauge, and the trial of low-carbon ‘reef cubes’ which could be used in the construction of the scheme and provide habitat for marine creatures.

The first round of events to take place later this month will provide a summary of the progress of the project to date, including information about wave and climate change modelling and the various surveys carried out.

People living and working in Looe will have the opportunity to say what potential benefits they would like the scheme to deliver for the town.

On November 23 and 24, Harbour users and other stakeholders will be invited to online meetings, with a zoom meeting for members of the public to be held on November 25.

A further round of engagement in Spring 2022 will include face-to-face workshops for businesses and the community.

Feedback from the engagement will be analysed by the project team and used to shape the final designs, as well as supporting the bid for funding for the scheme.

Subject to a successful bid to the Environment Agency, an outline business case will be submitted to Government in 2022.You can find out in more detail about the Looe Flood Defence plans and sign up to the zoom meeting by visiting the Let's Talk Cornwall website https://letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk/hub-page/looe-flood-defenceThe latest newsletter for November 2021 can be found on the Looe Town Council website at https://www.looetowncouncil.gov.uk/