The impact of Storm Emma on small businesses on Cornwall has largely been one of devastation with damage to property, loss of business and loss of revenue among the effects.
WeSUP paddleboard centre, located on Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth had their paddleboards, paddles, wetsuits and storage facility destroyed by the storm with sand levels around the building dropping massively.
The first dedicated stand-up paddle boarding centre in the UK, it had been a popular choice for tourists and local water sports enthusiasts alike located just a 10 minute walk away from the heart of Falmouth.
“Before, we had these big wooden doors and all of our boards, paddles, buoyancy aids and wetsuits were stored in two cupboards. We also had an attic up the top where we stored other items of our general use,” WeSUP operations manager Chloe Peglau told TruthFal.
“In addition to the doors being totally washed off, and the boards and all the equipment being swept away, we’ve also lost about 4ft of sand which has totally washed away.
Sean who has been working for the business for eight years has certainly never encountered this kind of storm. “We’re lucky where we are in Falmouth that we’re normally sheltered from the storm.”
Such destruction was also rife on both of Falmouth’s other two main beaches at Swanpool and Maenporth, with sand blown all over the car parks, damaged barriers and broken benches amongst the wreckage.