“The Walk of a Lifetime – The South West Coast Path National Trail is rated as one of the top walks to be found anywhere in the world by href=”http://www.southwestcoastpath.com/newsapp/article/54/” target=”_blank”>Lonely Planet and voted Britain’s best walking route by the readers of Walk magazine.” (South West Coast Path home page)
The developers initially proposed fencing the area including 1.8m high security fencing along the south west boundary abutting the South West Coast path – (see extract from the specification).
The reality however is that Shire Oak Quarries installed 700m of fencing without planning permission to this standard shown in the photograph below.
On 28th March 2017 South West Coast Path Association (SWCP) submitted an objection to retrospective PA17/00257 to Cornwall Council, the latest in a string of mounting opposition to Shire Oak Quarries’ fencing at Dean Quarry.
The SWCP Association’s objection to Shire Oak Quarries’ retrospective Planning Application (PA17/00257) for the Dean Quarry fencing highlights “the substantial adverse impact on the environment of the South West Coast Path”, which is “contrary to national policy relating to the National Trail and an AONB”.
Two 6.2m high foot bridges are planned to guide walkers over the loading jetties. During blasting it is planned to close the South West Foot path for 30 minute intervals. No mention is made of any contingency plan in case the closure is longer. Depending on the timing of the closures walkers risk missing the Ferry at Helford or an unplanned walk in the dark.