RESIDENTS from East Cornwall are being invited to give their views on proposals for flood defences in the village of Calstock at a public consultation this Saturday (February 3).

Proposed plans issued last year by the Environment Agency included moving the embankment back from the river, allowing fields close to the river to flood naturally. This was aimed at preventing flooding of the village car park and some homes upriver of the village.

But residents have opposed this plan as it would mean moving the popular riverbank walk — now nearly 40 years old and deteriorating.

In November last year the officials from the Environment Agency held a drop-in event at Calstock to present their initial thoughts. Their suggestions included a new flood defence in the fields that border the existing riverbank and allowing the fields on the river side of the new bank to flood and become a new marshland. There would have been a 30m breach in the existing path and there was doubt whether there would be money to bridge it.

Calstock parish councillor Alastair Tinto, who has been designated by the council to be the link with the Environment Agency, said that the riverbank walk in Calstock was a flood defence for the properties in the area: ‘It is now nearly 40 years old and is deteriorating. The Environment Agency has plans to redevelop it, needless to say, these proposals are highly controversial — a Facebook petition opposing them posted last week has nearly 800 signatures.

‘Many people don’t want the existing riverwalk to be lost. The flood proposals would have meant that the fields next to the football pitch that Calstock Bike Show use and which have, as long as anyone can remember, always been a village amenity, having been used in the past for the regatta, a funfair and for coach parking, would be lost.’

Dan Boswell, from the Environment Agency, said: ‘The existing flood embankment provides an important role in reducing floor risk in Calstock but surveys have shown that it is in a poor condition. Therefore, the Environment Agency is exploring options to develop an affordable scheme to continue the standard of flood protection to properties within Calstock.

‘A key consideration to ensuring that the embankment can be maintained in a good condition into the future is its location. For this reason it is likely that options will consider moving the existing embankment inland away from the river, where it will be under less pressure from erosion. As a result it may be necessary to permanently divert the existing permissive pathway.’

MP for South East Cornwall Sherryl Murray said she has been able to discuss the proposed plans with the EA and local residents.

‘I have met with the chairman of the parish council, members of the bike show and residents who have expressed concerns.

‘The Environment Agency is looking for a way that will satisfy everyone and I am pleased that they are prepared to engage with the residents — they want to come up with a scheme that pleases the local people.’

The public consultation will be held in Calstock Hall from 11am to 1pm this Saturday (February 3). During the consultation people can give their views, discuss ideas and exchange thoughts. Cllr Tinto added: ‘The Environment Agency will also be in attendance to give information but the purpose of the consultation is to enable the parish council to get a feel for what the people of Calstock and the surrounding area want so that they can represent their views.’

For those who cannot attend, their views can be emailed to clerk@calstockparish council.org.uk or write to Calstock Parish Council, the Tamar Valley Centre, Cemetery Road, Drakewalls, Gunnislake, PL18 9FE.