Community helps out as village pub floods


Looe and Polruan firefighters were called to Polperro on 6 February when heavy rain caused flooding to parts of the village, including a cottage in Landaviddy Lane.


The Old Millhouse Inn was under threat of heavy flooding from the surface water pouring down Mill Hill.


For licensees Brian and Rita Morgan, who took over the pub last April, this was their first experience of being flooded, but quick action from the local community helped to save the day.


Wonderful community spirit


Rita said: ‘The downpour wasn’t expected but as soon as we were warned we put our barrier up and sandbags which stopped the main bar from flooding. Unfortunately we couldn’t stop the water from


getting into the Boathouse which is the pub dining area, the corridor, cellar and toilet, but it would have been a lot worse without the help of a lot of people who ran to our assistance armed with brooms who kept sweeping the water away. The community spirit was wonderful and much appreciated.’


The pub was closed on Monday night and all day Tuesday but was able to re-open on Wednesday.


Youngsters from the Foundation Class at Looe Primary Academy learned about how Chinese New Year is celebrated during a visit to the town’s Peking Garden restaurant.


The pupils leaned some phrases in Mandarin and found out about the Chinese New Year story as they tasted a variety of dishes.


Progress with plan to restore Watchtower


Plans to bring East Looe’s historic Watchtower back to its former glory have taken a step forward with the award of a grant from the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF).


The streets of Polperro were flooded, left, and the water ran into the dining area of the Old Mill House pub, above.


Pictures: Jill Stephenson


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The match funding of £1,770 will enable the East Looe Town Trust to conduct a viability study into the costs and options for restoring the Grade II listed building.


The old lifeboat shed and Watchtower has played an important role in Looe’s seafaring history ever since the first lifeboat to serve the town was dedicated 150 years ago.


The Watchtower is a ‘splendid looking building of strong construction, with a degree of detailing in its design which belies its utilitarian purpose,’ says the trust. But after years of battering by the wind and tide, the building is now vacant and used only to store items that will not be damaged by damp.


Looe’s former lifeboat shed and watchtower on the seafront


A full restoration project would depend on support from the community, said trust chairman John Warne.


‘The trust has a duty to protect listed buildings in its care, and to use all its assets to support its charitable purposes,’ he said.


‘We welcome expressions of support for the restoration and suggestions about the future use of the Watchtower – understanding that to meet the cost of maintaining the Looe Museum, beach and seafront, Wooldown and Guildhall, the trust is almost entirely dependent on its rental income.’


LOOE NEWS MARCH / APRIL 2017 13


Children sample a taste of the Orient


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