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Newquay to get new beach rescue centre

From the Boating Cornwall, first published Monday 9th Mar 2009.

Plans are well advanced for a new beach rescue centre for Fistral Beach. Building is expected to begin later this year.

The internationally recognised Fistral Beach, owned by Restormel borough council, is the premier surfing and tourism beach in Cornwall.

It was recognised back in 2002 that the facilities on Fistral Beach for local's, tourist's and staff, were totally inadequate, and did not reflect the international importance of this world renowned surfing beach. As a result, a phased programme of improvements was embarked upon. This third and final phase will see the construction of the beach rescue centre itself.

The RNLI is currently contracted to Restormel council and its successor authority, to provide the beach rescue service at Fistral on behalf of the authority up until the autumn of 2027.

Beach rescue facilities are currently provided from a collection of temporary container type buildings. These are removed each winter, do not provide ideal accommodation, and have a negative visual impact on this heavily used tourist destination.

The new beach rescue centre although two storeys will have dynamic overhanging eaves and gables providing shelter to the seaward terrace, as well as giving the building a more human scale. Rainwater will be harvested from the roof and provide outside fresh water showers for lifeguards and beach rescue staff.

RNLI Area Lifeguard Manager for Restormel, Paul Benney, said: "We are pleased that the RNLI lifeguards who patrol Fistral beach are one step closer to having an appropriate facility from which to carry out their lifesaving work."

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