Construction work begins on the new Penlee RNLI lifeboat station
Work began this week (Monday 9 July) on the new Penlee lifeboat station in Newlyn Harbour. Over a 10-month period, the existing boathouse will be demolished and a new facility erected in its place.
Contractors, Symons Construction started work on Monday to divert the storm water drain which currently runs under the car park and into the harbour, passing through the footprint of the new boathouse.
Ben Holtaway, Coastal Infrastructure Engineer says it’s great to see the project get underway:
‘This build has been a long time in the planning and it is great to see the contractors make a start on site. Diverting the storm water drain will take around five weeks to complete. The contractors are currently working around the tides to form a new outlet and excavating for the new pipe run within the harbour car park. Work areas will alter daily depending on which section of the storm water drain they are working on.
During this time, the crew can continue to operate from the existing lifeboat station. Once the storm water diversion works are complete demolition of the current lifeboat station can commence. The crew will then move into the temporary lifeboat station adjacent to the old inshore lifeboat building at the southern end of the Newlyn Harbour car park. They will operate from here throughout the rest of the build, ensuring that Penlee RNLI’s lifeboat operations will be unaffected’
Designed by architects Studio Four Ltd, the new, two storey building will occupy a slightly larger footprint in the same location as the current station that was constructed in 1983. The new station will provide a larger crew/operational room, training room, changing room and workshop, along with a visitor engagement area.
Patrick Harvey, Coxswain of lifeboat station:
'There’s no pretending that the next 10 months are going to be easy. The disruption and demands on everyone at the station, including the volunteer crew are going to be enormous and I thank them in advance for their patience and goodwill. But we will come out of the project with a superb new lifeboat station that the RNLI team will be proud of and one which will benefit the whole community.’
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
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