Holiday Park Owner Forced to Pay £300k for Sea Wall After Council Refuses Funding
Rob Braddick, the owner of the Pier View and Braddick Holiday Park in Westward Ho!, North Devon, has been compelled to invest £300,000 in constructing a sea wall to safeguard his cliffside restaurant from severe coastal erosion. This substantial expenditure came after the local council refused to provide any financial assistance for the vital protection project, leaving Mr Braddick to shoulder the burden alone.
Erosion Threats and Flooding Incidents
Alarm bells began ringing two years ago when a significant portion of the restaurant's car park was washed away by the sea, highlighting the urgent need for intervention. Mr Braddick, 54, expressed concern that further erosion could lead to catastrophic damage within the next few years, potentially endangering the entire establishment. The restaurant, which has stood on the cliff edge since 1947 and is run by the fifth generation of his family, faced repeated flooding incidents, including a major event in 2014 where tonnes of seawater inundated the amusement arcade located beneath the bar and restaurant.
Mr Braddick had hoped the council would contribute to the sea defence efforts, especially since a public footpath runs along the front of the restaurant, making it a matter of public safety as well. However, the council's refusal forced him to take matters into his own hands. He stated, 'Ideally it would not be my responsibility to build sea defences, but as we own the land we are trying to protect, we just have to get on with it.'
Planning and Construction Challenges
The process of securing planning permission and approvals from various authorities, including Torridge District Council, Natural England, and the Environment Agency, took two years. Once approved, Mr Braddick decided to undertake a high-quality, long-term solution, describing it as a 'Rolls-Royce job' to ensure the shoreline's protection for generations to come.
The sea wall is constructed from 57 pre-cast concrete blocks, each costing approximately £1,200, designed to resemble natural stone and painted buffalo brown to blend with the cliff face. These blocks are transported via crane onto a platform and drilled four metres into the rock before being interlinked, creating a robust 187-foot flood defence. The project is expected to be completed in about eight weeks.
Financial Strain and Future Hopes
Mr Braddick acknowledged the financial strain of the project, particularly during a challenging period for the hospitality sector. He remarked, 'The hospitality sector is struggling a lot at the moment, and it is not the best time to be chucking money over a cliff edge.' However, he emphasized the necessity of the investment, warning that erosion of the car park could eventually lead to the restaurant's demise.
Looking ahead, Mr Braddick expressed optimism that the sea wall would protect the property for the next 100 years, securing it for future generations, including his children who may take over the business. He added, 'One day I’ll be able to stand here and know that we protected it for the next generation - and that will be worth the money.'
Council and Agency Responses
A spokesman from Torridge District Council clarified that the council is not involved in defence schemes on private land in Westward Ho!, focusing instead on a linear defence scheme for the village centre. The Environment Agency and Natural England have been contacted for comment but have not yet responded.
Mr Braddick, who owns several other bars and restaurants in the area, including The Fairway Buoy and Crabby Dicks, also manages the Seafield car park, which he made free for public use after taking over the lease from the council a decade ago. His proactive approach underscores the broader challenges faced by coastal businesses in dealing with erosion without public support.
