£5.5m rebuild for lifeboat house

The Tamar class lifeboat has self-righting capability

One of Cornwall's oldest lifeboat stations is set to receive £5.5m, as well as a new vessel.

The RNLI has given the go-ahead for a new lifeboat house and slipway at Trevose Head in Padstow.

The lifeboat house will be home to a new Tamar class vessel, which is due to arrive next year and capable of speeds up to 25 knots (28.8mph).

For the building work, materials will be delivered to Padstow and then brought to the site by boat.

It's going to be a challenge technically Richard Hayman

The Trevose Head station needs to be located in the remote deep bay so the boat can be launched quickly.

Members of the lifeboat crew say they have had a good run with the old vessel, the Tyne class James Burrough.

Coxswain Alan Tarby said: "It's never let us down, so the new one will have a job to match this one.

"But it will be faster, it will be 25 knots instead of 18, and it will be higher out of water, meaning it is easier to carry out an eyesight search. The navigation equipment will also be more sophisticated."

But the station's bay location will mean the construction of the building will not be an easy project.

Construction team site agent Richard Hayman said: "It certainly has its logistical problems.

"It's going to be a challenge technically and is certainly unique to the country as it stands at the moment."

Lifeboat Operations Manager Mike Walker said the station was working with residents to try and keep disruption during the construction to a minimum.

He said: "It's important for residents to be able to get children to school on time, and farms to be able to get deliveries and get their stock out.

"A lot of the work will also depend upon the weather, but the people building it will be experienced."

Work on the station is expected to begin at the start of April.

The £2m, 31.5 tonne Tamar class vessel will be 52 ft (16m) long, have a crew of up to seven people and will have self-righting capability if it capsizes.