The future of Clovelly’s picture postcard harbour

and the safety of its beachside cottages could be threatened unless action is taken quickly to repair the breakwater which protects the centuries old harbour wall, it was warned yesterday.
A repair scheme could cost upto £30,000 and the problem is who should pay the bill.

The harbour is owned by the Clovelly Estate Company and its managing director, Captain M W B Kerr, told the Gazette “We cannot afford to pay for the work”.

Up to now the Department of the Environment have refused to help financially but there were signs this week that Devon County Council may be trying to persuade them to change their minds.

The situation was highlighted on Wednesday when Mr Ted Pinney, chairman of the County Council’s Amenities and Countryside Committee, visited Clovelly to judge for himself the extent of the villagers’ concern.

The full Gazette article is dated 11 March 1977