Protestors in Newquay stall development work on beach cliffs
Campaigners gathered for another day of action against development on Whipsiderry cliffs
Last updated 2nd Mar 2023
Campaigners gathered at Whipsiderry beach in Newquay against plans for development works on the cliffs.
Peaceful protests have been taking place each day to try and stall workers from making developments there.
They say plans to develop by the beach would destroy wildlife and birds nesting there.
Leah Steward, who lives across the road from the beach, described the protest as very "personal".
She told us: "We want to protect our natural coastline. Whipsiderry is beautiful, it's one of the last natural beaches and one of the places you can go to escape all of horrible development that has taken over Newquay and other parts of Cornwall.
"When you're on Whipsiderry Beach you could be a million miles away to be honest. Filling it with concrete is going to destroy the feel and why Whipsiderry is so special to people".
Today (Thursday 2 March), groups organised a larger peaceful protest for people in Newquay to make speeches and hold banners.
Lindsey, who also lives locally, added: "I live about a ten minute walk away. If you know Whipsiderry, you'll know the 147 steps or something that you need to climb down to get to it. That isolation for the access makes it a special place because you can get away from it.
"We've got choughs nesting on the clifftops, we've got fulmah's nesting, bats in the caves. It's one of the last remaining wild places in this local area.
"The license terms mean that the contactors are only able to work until the 31st March because after the 31st March is bird nesting season. They also state they're only able to work between 8am and 4pm on a Monday to Friday".
Lindsey continued: "What we've been trying to do, for the last two weeks, is to try and stall the works peacefully. To try and get away in a bit. It's a public beach, they aren't allowed to prevent people from going on the beach. If we can delay the works we have more time to try and approach this, and get the license and planning withdrawn. That's the goal".
The police have said in a statement they are aware of the matter and officers are at the scene to ensure a legal and peaceful protest.