Residents of Newquay, Cornwall, have become embroiled in a dispute over the blocking of a long-standing coastal path linking Glendorgal headland to Porth beach. The route, historically used by locals for generations, has been obstructed by gates and rubble erected by developer Séamus Redmond, who owns the land and the now-closed Glendorgal hotel.

Redmond, who secured planning permission last year to construct 12 luxury holiday homes on the site, has maintained that the headland is private property with no public right of way. He has asserted that anyone using the path without permission is trespassing. When confronted by residents opposed to the closure, Redmond reportedly suggested they could regain access by purchasing one of the holiday homes, which would include exclusive rights to the pathway.

In response, local resident Matt Kennedy-Smith, a teacher originally from Newquay, has established the Glendorgal Coast Path group. The organization aims to protect public access by seeking a Definitive Map Modification Order (DMMO) from Cornwall Council, which would necessitate an official investigation into the historical use of the route. The group has collected evidence from over 100 local witnesses, citing long-term public use for activities such as wedding photographs, proposals, and scattering ashes. According to their survey data, more than half of respondents use the path weekly, nearly 14 percent use it daily, and over 95 percent believed the route was publicly accessible when they traversed it without interruption. Some individuals claim to have followed the path since the 1960s.

Kennedy-Smith expressed frustration at Redmond’s claim that locals must buy property to access the headland, describing it as emblematic of growing challenges faced by the community. He emphasized that ownership of land does not automatically negate established rights of way and highlighted the path’s cultural significance.

Redmond has responded to public criticism, reaffirming his stance that the land remains private and accusing some individuals of vandalism. He stated that the path had not been open to the public for two decades and insisted that it would remain private property.

The conflict reflects a historic pattern of contention dating back to 1882, when another landowner, Sir Arthur Pendarves Vivian, attempted to restrict access to the Glendorgal route. At that time, local opposition and a public inquiry led to the establishment of protections for public rights along the path. Following Vivian’s departure, the Tangye family acquired the land and maintained its accessibility until the hotel’s closure.

The Glendorgal hotel operated as a public establishment from 1950 until the COVID-19 pandemic, when it closed due to financial challenges. The current owners, Séamus and Amanda Redmond, acquired the property through their company, Bluechip Hotels Limited. Their recent planning application to Cornwall Council cited sustained operational losses, low occupancy rates, and the need for significant investment as reasons for converting the site into holiday homes. They also argued that the hotel’s extended closure and underuse risked serious deterioration of the estate and surrounding headland, asserting that redevelopment serves the wider public interest by preserving the area’s condition.

Cornwall Council maintains that no public right of way exists on the headland, underlining the legal complexity of the dispute. The case remains unresolved as community groups and the developer continue to assert conflicting claims over historic access rights.