CAMPAIGNERS against plans for a desalination plant in St Austell Bay are staging a protest on Saturday (June 8).

Desalination Information Group (DIG) is staging a parade and swim out at Par Beach to show how many people oppose South West Water’s scheme, which will be held between 4.30pm and 5.15pm.

South West Water plans would see seawater taken from St Austell Bay and turned into drinking water to help the region become "less reliant on rainfall and more resilient against the impacts of climate change in the future.”

But the Say No To Desal campaign has been established following concerns the facility would pose a threat to environmentally sensitive seagrass, the maerl, and the endangered and protected seahorses that make St Austell Bay their home. The campaigners also object to a proposed land pipe between Par and Lostwithiel.

Campaigners will be staging a beach parade with placards and banners at 4.50pm, which will be accompanied by The Horners Street Band.

Swimmers will be forming a human chain along the shoreline and boats are being encouraged to sound their horns at 5pm.

The event is being held to coincide with World Ocean Day, which aims to catalyse collective action for a healthy ocean and a stable climate.

DIG has previously been holding information days to get its message across to the public.

A spokesperson for DIG said: “Home-made placards and banners very welcome.

“The main event will be at Par Beach but people can join from Polkerris, Spit and Carlyon with boats from Fowey and Mevagissey.

“We want to make this event as big as possible. Join us for a paddle and swim out with a show of strength on the beach to show how many people oppose South West Water’s plans.

“Just to be clear, the desalination plant is subject to planning approval.

 “We can express our opposition and influence the decision with the right information and knowledge.”

South West Water announced plans last year to build a large desalination plant at Par but now it proposes to change its plans and create a smaller facility there in 2024 using existing infrastructure, to "avoid any impact to the marine environment" after listening to environmental concerns.

But the Desalination Information Group says the revised plans are no improvement and “change nothing.”

South West Water says the planned desalination plant would be capable of producing between 2.5 and 5 million litres of clean drinking water each day when needed.

Greenpeace has said the water company should prioritise fixing leaks, adding that desalination should be seen as "a last resort.”

South West Water’s desalination plant plans are part of a £125m project to increase water resources in the region.