22-07-2025
One of UK's most tranquil seaside spots at risk of losing golden sands after huge blowhole emerges
A HARBOUR in a popular seaside town is facing a major issue after a huge blowhole has formed.
The South Devon beach has seen the effects of erosion caused by decades of battering waves.
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Now Hope Cove harbour is doing everything it can to save their breakwater afte a blowhole formed in the middle.
Built 98 years ago by fisherman, the harbour wall was last repaired in 1983.
Since then, there have been no funds available to refurbish it any further.
Shocking discovery
During construction, fishermen would work with the tide, building a section with each tide change.
Between these periods, debris, rocks, and stones would be thrown in the middle and left there while the next section was built.
Over the years, cracks have appeared and high water can be seen blowing the debris through the sea wall.
Sean Hassall is the joint harbour master on Hope Cove Harbour and explained that the force of the waves has given the breakwater a significant battering.
'We had the breakwater X-rayed a few years ago and to our horror, there's loads of voids between our breakwater,' said Sean.
This has caused a blowhole to form in the middle of the wall, which Sean says will be detrimental to the harbour and surrounding area in time.
'The kids think the blowhole is great, but it's only a matter of time before the breakwater goes," he explained.
"If it goes we lose all the sand off the beach."
Hope Cove relies massively on this golden sand beach for tourism, meaning the town will suffer a financial blow.
Further problems
On top of that as, cliffs and a mains sewage pipe also sit close by, and could potentially be affected.
'It will erode the cliff where the pathways go over to Inner Hope and Outer Hope, and along that path, there is a mains South West Water sewage pipe so that will obviously impact on the sewage system and South West Water,' the expert said.
The harbour masters have considered various options for recovery of the breakwater, ranging from £1 million to £5 million.
'We're going for the just over £1 million option, it's an easier option for us,' explained Sean.
And due to the carcinogenic nature of concrete, the harbour are unable to use it.
Instead, they plan to bring in big boulders to reinforce the wall and repair what is already there.
And since the harbour is completely independent and not funded by the South Hams District Council, all the money will have to be raised by the harbour and Friends of Hope Cove, a charity designed to protect the cove.
"We have the Friends of Hope Cove Harbour, which are a brilliant group, they're the driving force to try and raise the money to rebuild our harbour wall,' said Sean.
The harbour is planning a public meeting on Wednesday, August 6 to discuss their plans and when they will go ahead.
'There's lots of indications that there might be money there, but we first need to know how much it's going to cost, when we're going to do it, who's going to do it," said Sean.
"Once we know that detail, we can then go out to the wider public and say look, we need the money who's going to help us'.
'Its getting the word out to people, a lot of people are very passionate about our village, it is a special place'.
The Sun has reached out to the local council for comment.
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