Home / Business and Economy / Owner Foots £300k Bill for Cliffside Restaurant Protection
Owner Foots £300k Bill for Cliffside Restaurant Protection
1 Apr
Summary
- Park owner spent £300,000 on sea wall for restaurant.
- Council refused to fund the vital coastal protection project.
- The wall is designed to look like natural stone and protect for 100 years.
Rob Braddick, owner of the Pier View and Braddick Holiday Park in Westward Ho!, North Devon, has undertaken a significant £300,000 project to construct a sea wall protecting his cliffside restaurant. This crucial coastal defense was necessary after the local council declined to fund it, despite a public footpath running along the restaurant's front. The arcade below the restaurant had previously been flooded, and Mr. Braddick anticipated further damage due to ongoing cliff erosion.
After a two-year process to secure planning permission and approvals from various agencies, Mr. Braddick opted for a high-quality solution. The sea wall is constructed from 57 pre-cast concrete blocks, costing approximately £1,200 each, which are painted to blend with the natural cliff face. This substantial investment aims to safeguard the shoreline for at least 100 years, ensuring the business's survival for future generations. The project, started at Christmas, is expected to conclude in approximately eight weeks.
Torridge District Council stated they are not involved in private land defense schemes but are working on a separate public defense project for the center of Westward Ho!. Mr. Braddick expressed that while it's not ideal to bear the cost, protecting the land his family has operated on since 1947 is a necessity. He hopes his efforts will be a legacy for his children and future generations.
