COUNCIL bosses have finally caved in and agreed to discuss concerns about the stability of Whipsiderry cliff.

Cornwall Council representatives are due to meet with Newquay Town Council after the authority raised concerns the B3276 coastal road could be in jeopardy within the next two years due to the current rate of erosion.

The town council is also seeking assurances that a lockable Cornwall Council wants to install at the top of the beach steps does not become a permanent fixture. Cornwall Council has previously refused to discuss the Whipsiderry cliff issues with the town council.

But undeterred the town council voted to write to Cornwall Council calling for an urgent meeting to hear what the unitary authority’s strategy is for the area following a call for action from the Whipsiderry Cliff group.

Cornwall Council has given assurances its plan to install a “permanent” lockable gate is “not a permanent arrangement.”

Residents, councillors and the campaign group have been seeking a commitment from Cornwall Council that future safe access to Whipsiderry beach would be maintained arguing the community has lost a valuable asset “through no fault of their own.”

Cornwall Council propose to install the permanent lockable gate following the three major cliff collapses at Whipsidrery has resulted in the steps leading down to the beach being deemed unsafe. The cliff collapses occurred after a developer carried out cliff stabilisation work ahead of its plans to build seven luxury villas on the clifftop above on the site of the former Paradise Cove Hotel.

A Cornwall Council spokesperson said: “A meeting will be arranged with Newquay Town Council to answer any questions they may have.

“The steps will have to remain closed for the foreseeable future whilst cliff falls persist and the unstable debris pile at the base of the cliff remains in situ.  Natural processes will eventually erode and remove this material allowing for a more detailed stability assessment, however at present there is a high potential for further cliff falls. 

“The council has already consulted both the RNLI and coastguard on the move to install the gate. Emergency services will be able to access the steps. 

“The gate is not being installed as a permanent arrangement but as a temporary safety feature at the top of the Council owned steps down to the beach. 

“The steps have been closed for safety reasons with temporary fencing in place since a cliff fall at the end of November.

“Unfortunately, people have been moving the fencing, so the gate is being put in place to deter people from using the steps to access the beach and potentially put themselves and others at risk.  

 “The steps will have to remain closed for the foreseeable future whilst cliff falls persist and the unstable debris pile at the base of the cliff remains in situ.  Natural processes will eventually erode and remove this material allowing for a more detailed stability assessment, however at present there is a high potential for further cliff falls. 

“The council has already consulted both the RNLI and coastguard on the move to install the gate. Emergency services will be able to access the steps. 

“The advice is to please stay away from the cliffs and be aware that with the steps closed, there is a risk of getting cut off by the tide if walking along the beach from Porth towards Watergate.”