4. Pentewan

This south-easterly facing beach lies on the south coast, west of St Austell Bay.

The top and vegetated back of the dunes is made over to holiday caravan development.

The beach is gently sloping and extends from the harbour, The White River (St Austell River) and dilapidated breakwater in the north to the edge of the holiday camp in the south.

The sand is high on the left (north) of the breakwater but very low to the right. It is very coarse below Mean High Water and left of the breakwater, comprising mainly large quartz fragments derived from china clay waste.

To the south the sand is finer but much of this is a veneer.

On the south-west side the active face is made up of rock armour facing a sand and soil bund. Northwards the rock armour phases out and the active face is more natural. Toward the north-western end there are sections of netting, presumably to stabilise the sand and encourage dune development.


Walkover report and photos of 31 January 2022

DW04_Pentewan_2022-01-31.pdf

Issues
Inundation risks, erosion, failing historic breakwater and harbour which contribute to overall complexity of managing coastal change
Potential Actions
Project to deliver a reinforced dune slope is in delivery, but better understanding of magnitude of future coastal change is required.
Community Groups
Residents Association and Parish Council
Key Stakeholders

  • Pentewan Valley Parish Council
  • Pentewan Sands Holiday Park
CCMA potential
Potential

Shoreline Management Plan
SMP Management Area: MA06
SMP Policy Unit: PU6.6
SMP Policies:
  • Present - No Active Intervention
  • Transition - No Active Intervention
  • Target - No Active Intervention
Link to SMP Chapter 4 assessment for Management Area 08

A link to the Pentewan page on the 'Let's Talk Cornwall' website will appear here in due course.