Cliff face work 'has cost restaurant £300 a day'
NOISY drills being used to stabilise a Brixham cliff face have cost hundreds of pounds of lost trade in the height of the summer season, claims a cafe owner.
Lee Tyrrell of the Breakwater Bistro is frustrated the work is being carried out during his busiest time of year and says he has lost up to £300 a day since it started two weeks ago.
Mr Tyrrell claims the noise has led to would-be customers turning their back on his eatery because it disturbs the peace of the tranquil setting overlooking Tor Bay and Breakwater Beach.
A rock fell from the cliff face on to the beach below in February but Torbay Council has only recently begun to make the cliff safe.
They cordoned off a section of the beach two weeks ago and erected scaffolding.
The authority says it has taken months to inspect the area for damage, remove vegetation from the cliff face, prepare a detailed report and put the work out to tender.
The council insisted it has 'pulled out all the stops to ensure the work is completed before the start of the main summer holiday today,'
But Mr Tyrell believes it should have been done earlier in the year.
"I can't understand the mentality of it," he said.
"We've had no summer for two years and all of a sudden we get a heatwave and half the beach is closed.
"They started two weeks ago trimming the foliage and putting up ugly scaffolding. They've also got an ugly portable building on the beach and closed half of it off. The place looks an absolute mess.
"They've closed the coast path off too so there are no walkers, so I'm losing out on passing trade there as well. And now they've got noisy machinery here.
"It's so frustrating. It's a money making time for us but we've lost custom because of it, without a doubt..
"My take-away kiosk only works when there are people on the beach.
"It's the only beach in Brixham and for half of it to be closed in July is ridiculous."
When the two tonne rock fell earlier this year, the council sectioned off part of the beach.
They are spending £45,000 on the works.
A council spokesman added: "A large retaining wall and a road are situated on the top of the cliff face so it was essential the whole area was inspected thoroughly to assess the damage and the necessary work was completed.
"Simply removing the fallen rock could have led to far more serious consequences.
"If there had been another rock fall we may have been forced to close the road and shut off the beach.
"Following the rock fall a rope access specialist was appointed to remove vegetation from the cliff face before our consultant engineering geologist inspected it.
"The engineering geologist then prepared a detailed report which took three to four weeks to complete.
"Once we had a copy of the report we then worked out how we were going to fund the necessary work to stabilise the cliff face."
Two specialist rock stabilisation tendered for the work and the contract was awarded to Celtic Rock Services.
The work is due to finish today, the spokesman added.
8 Comments
by Paul SKY SCAFFOLDING, DEVON LTD
Friday, July 03 2009, 6:15PM
“I would like to comment on the quotation "Ugly Scaffolding".
I was part of the team that erected the said Scaffolding, our company work to a high standard to erect a safe and tidy scaffold, with consideration to members of public that are working within our environment.
The work that was done at Dartmouth's Castle Cove was welcomed as the beach was totally closed, and now work has been carried out, the beach is now open for everyone to enjoy a safe beach.
I would like to say thank you to the cafe for the free coffee's, during the time of erecting the scaffolding. I hope that any weekly profits have not been lost during this time.
Thanks Paul C/O Sky Scaffolding Devon LTD.”
by Paul Hollinson, totnes
Friday, July 03 2009, 5:55PM
“I would Like to comment on the quote on the "UGLY SCAFFOLDING", I was part of the team that put the Scaffolding up, our company works to a high standard to erect scaffolding in to ensure it is safe , with consideration to members of public that work around our working environment.
I would like to comment that similar works carried out at Dartmouth Castle Cove, was welcomed because the beach was total close due to the unusable cliff and now works have been completed the beach has now been reopened for locals and holiday makers to enjoy a safe beach!!
I would also like to thank the Cafe for the free COFFEE for the Scaffolders, during the erection of the scaffold I hope that they have not lost out on any weekly profits during this time.
Thanks Paul SKY SCAFFOLDING DEVON LTD”
by mr howard, Paignton
Friday, July 03 2009, 5:17PM
“Whats this guy on!! and for the paper to print such a silly comment is mad......... Brixham has more Beaches than any of the other towns maybe he should try and walk the coastal routes from Paignton and count the beaches.......... as for the works think that cheap for the council they do all they can to take as much of the council tax payers money but that seems a good price for the repairs. he should be glad its not a person to have lost there lifes rather then his trade, wonder if he is going to pay anything towards the repairs considering there right next to his cafe??? think the council should try it on with him haha”
by Jockman, Torquay
Friday, July 03 2009, 2:08PM
“Typical Trader ...he's obviously tried it on with the Council to the tune of £300 per day....been told where to get off ....then he's whinged to the Herald Express ...Join the real world!.....there's much more at stake here than Mr Tyrell making his fat cat stash !!”
by A Local, Brixham
Friday, July 03 2009, 11:15AM
“It's the only beach in Brixham and for half of it to be closed in July is ridiculous."
Err - what about Fishcombe, Churston Quay, Mudstone, Mansands to name but a few?”
by steven warren, newton abbot
Friday, July 03 2009, 11:01AM
“And if the council didnt do anything and a rock smashed into the cafe he would be moaning about the damage and looking to sue the council...
Safety first and foremost on this one, not loss of earnings”
by Kim, Brixham
Friday, July 03 2009, 10:22AM
“Outrageously high prices may be another factor in lack of trade at said cafe and yes wouldn't it have been a shame if the cafe or it's staff been hurt.
Some things money just can't replace. Mr Tyrell should count his bleesings before his cash.”
by Loon, Torbay
Friday, July 03 2009, 8:22AM
“I think that Lee should be thankful that the two tonne rock didn't fall on his beach cafe. Sometimes things just happen like this, and the councils are bound be rules and regulations about tendering for work - if they took shortcuts with this kind of work and it went wrong then people's lives could be at stake and there would be no shortage of people saying "why didn't they follow the regulations"...”