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No More Fly Tipping Please
Issued: 11 June 2020
A plea to visitors to take litter home, has come from Devon councils following huge quantities of litter fly tipped on the region’s beaches and countryside.
Across Devon, councils are experiencing high levels of litter left abandoned around waste bins. The advice to picnickers who have been flocking to beaches and open spaces to enjoy the recent spell of sunny weather is, if the bins have already filled up, take your litter home to recycle.
Despite regular daily collections of waste bins across the length and breadth of the county, councils are simply overwhelmed with the huge quantities of full bags of picnic waste which is being abandoned, some of it never having been attempted to put into bins.
Rubbish left around bins, which is classified as fly tipping, causes the likelihood of rubbish being blown into the sea causing pollution of the region’s beautiful coastlines, harm to marine life and an increase in vermin and seagulls who scavenge for leftovers.
When residents and visitors are meeting friends and family outdoors due to the current lockdown measures in place, the message from councils is very clear: if the bins are full, take your rubbish home.
Respect your environment
Respect your local community
Don’t expect others to clean up your mess where you’ve abandoned it
Don’t be a Covidiot
Cllr Keith Baldry South Hams District Council’s Executive Member for Environment, said: “We know that most of our residents and visitors care about the South Hams and its beautiful environment and they join us in their anger over the actions of some people following the relaxation of the Covid lockdown. Be under no illusion, this is not just a South Hams issue, it’s happening nationwide and we need to stop it now before it gets too late.
“We know it is our responsibility to empty the bins regularly, which we do. But it is up to everyone to play their part and take responsibility for their own actions too. It is simply unbelievable that normally rational people think it is okay to abandon their rubbish in public spaces simply because the bin may be full. They wouldn’t leave their rubbish on a pavement if the bin was empty, so why leave it just because a bin has filled up?
“If you can manage to carry a bag of picnic food and drink to the beach, the park or countryside, and the bins have become overfull, then please use that same bag to carry the rubbish back home for recycling.
“Please do let us know if a bin is full by reporting it online and we will get there as quickly as possible to empty it. I would also strongly urge you to report incidents of fly tipping to us.”
The Councils’ Enforcement Officers are out and about patrolling the region and will be issuing on the spot fines of £100 to those caught littering.
For further information on reporting fly tipping or a full bin, please visit: www.southhams.gov.uk/reportit
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SHDC: COV19 update – free online courses
Follow link for details :- https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKSWDEVON/bulletins/28ec609
Council Asks Visitors to ‘Be Beach Aware’
Issued: 29 May 2020
Guidance on how to be beach aware has been issued by South Hams District Council following a spate of inconsiderate behaviour by a minority of users.
The District Council has issued cautionary advice to beach users who are flocking to visit South Hams’ beaches to enjoy the recent spell of sunny weather.
The high visitor numbers are causing a number of issues. Recently there have been occasions where the Council have become aware of large groups of people gathering together. They stress that Government guidelines for social distancing are still firmly in place and a distance of 2m should be maintained at all times for those outside of your household.
The area’s beaches have seen a rapid rise in overflowing bins as large numbers of people picnic in the sand. The Council know that most visitors are responsible, however they urge those who are not, to be sensible if bins provided are full. Please take picnic waste home to dispose of properly.
Waste left around bins, classified as fly tipping, causes the likelihood of rubbish being blown into the sea causing pollution of the beautiful coastline and an increase in vermin and seagulls.
Toilets at the most popular beaches are open, alongside the Council’s car parks and the Council want to ensure that residents and visitors alike are kept safe through social distancing, by regularly washing their hands and, where possible, using the RingGo app to avoid touching payment machines to further reduce the spread of the virus.
The Council are working as quickly as possible to reopen all toilets in a safe manner, however, where toilets have not yet reopened, the Council would expect that visitors would return home.
If visitors are taking their dogs to the beach, where allowed, please ensure that any dog poo is cleaned up and the bag safely deposited into a bin. If the bin is full, then please take this home as well and not leave it beside the bin.
With the terrible news of a number of lives lost on the water in the region over the past weekend, the District Council want to ensure that visitors are aware that there are currently no lifeguards on duty within the South Hams. Therefore visitors and especially families with children are encouraged to carefully follow guidance about water safety. Please take responsibility for the safety of family members and don’t use inflatables in the sea.
Cllr Judy Pearce, Leader of South Hams District Council, said: “We are proud of our beaches in the South Hams and completely understand that visitors will want to visit them after so many weeks of lockdown, especially with the beautiful weather we’re currently experiencing. However, we need to ask you all to take care as we all strive to get back to normal.
“When parking the car, visiting the toilets or just sitting on the beach, please do keep to the social distancing rules so we don’t face a spike in the virus. If you carry a bag of picnic food to the beach and the bins have become over full, then please use that same bag to carry the rubbish back home for recycling.
“We’re opening toilets as quickly as we possibly can in as safe a manner as possible. Please bear with us. If toilets near you aren’t yet open, please return home or use the nearest open facilities.
“Finally, and very importantly, take care of your loved ones while there is no lifeguard cover on the beaches. There have been a few instances of tragic loss of life in the region over the recent week and we want to ensure these are not repeated. Please don’t use inflatables, only swim, or surf, to your capabilities and watch children very carefully. If you’re going out on a boat, make sure you have all safety precautions in place with properly fitting lifejackets and a kill cord attached.
“Take care and enjoy the beaches sensibly and safely.”
Gareth Morrison, RNLI Head of Water Safety, said: “If the charity’s lifeguards were present on the beaches today, they would be preventing many incidents before they even occurred by directing people to safe swimming areas, highlighting dangers such as rip currents and advising people not to use inflatables. These preventive measures are not currently in place meaning people could find themselves in danger if they are not reading the signs and following the relevant safety advice.
“Our lifeguards are trained to swim 200m within 3 1/2 minutes, and although our volunteer lifeboat crews are fully operational, should they be needed, they won’t be able to reach you in the same time.
“It is important that anyone visiting the coast understands that the beach can be a dangerous environment and you must take more responsibility for you and your family this summer. No one ever goes to the coast to be rescued yet RNLI lifeguards rescue 1000’s each year.”
For further information on Council services, please visit: www.southhams.gov.uk
If you’re heading to the coast, take a look at the RNLI’s advice and tips to help you have fun and stay safe: https://rnli.org/safety/beach-safety or for water activities, go to: https://rnli.org/safety/choose-your-activity.
If you’re planning to go out on a boat, make sure you know how to stay safe by visiting: www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-advice/safe-boating
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Notes to Editors
Family groups, or households who live together, can safely visit along with one person from another home as long as they keep the agreed distance away from each other.
From Monday 1 June, groups of up to six people will be able to gather together since the Government’s five tests, including a fall in deaths, are now being met but the 2m distance rule still applies.
The recent launch of the NHS Test and Trace Service helps to identify those who may have come into contact with someone with the virus.
Dog Control Consultation – Have Your Say
Issued: 29 May 2020
South Hams District Council want your views in a public consultation about Public Space Protection Orders for dog control in the District.
A Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) deals with potential anti-social behaviour in an area which could have a harmful effect on the quality of life for those in the local community. It can ban certain things, or need specific things to be done, in this case the control of dogs in public areas.
The Council know that most dog owners properly control their dogs and abide by the rules. However, they want to encourage every dog owner throughout the South Hams to be responsible and these Protection Orders help with that.
PSPOs last for three years before they need to be reviewed and the current orders run out in December this year. The District Council now need to consult on the next set of Orders for the following three year period.
The current review affects all existing PSPOs within the District and they want to hear what you think. The Council is also considering introducing new orders within existing PSPO areas, as follows:
Dog walkers must carry dog bags or other container to collect dog waste
Restrict amount of dogs that can be walked at to four at a time
The Council have received proposals from communities in the following five areas for changes to their current order:
Courtenay Park in Salcombe. Currently, Courtenay Park is an area where dogs are to be kept under control at all times. They are allowed to run free off the lead and dog walkers are expected to pick up after their dogs.
Proposal: The Council have received a proposal to re-categorise Courtenay Park to an area where dogs must be kept on a lead.
Butts Park, Newton Ferrers. Currently, Butts Park is an area where dogs are kept on a lead and dog walkers are expected to pick up after their dogs.
Proposal 1: A proposal has been received to re-categorise Butts Park to an area where dogs are excluded.
Proposal 2: Another proposal has also been received to re-categorise Butts Park to an area where dogs are kept under control at all times, allowed to run free except when organised sport is in play they must be kept on a lead, and where dog walkers are expected to pick up after their dogs.
Malborough Playing Fields. Currently, Malborough Playing Fields is an area where dogs are required to be kept under control at all times and on lead when organised sport is in play. Dog walkers are expected to pick up after their dogs at all times.
Proposal: The Council have received a request to withdraw the PSPO from the Playing Fields, which are owned by the Malborough Village Hall & Playing Fields Association, in favour of the Association applying its own rules for dog walkers.
Specified Beaches. Currently, all of the beaches listed, are closed to dogs between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. from 1 May to 30 September.
Salcombe South Sands
Hope Cove (Mouthwell Sands)
Challaborough
Bigbury
Wembury, and
Bantham (part of – to include private area also).
Proposal: Dogs to be excluded from the beach between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. from 1 July to 31 August.
The consultation runs from Monday 1 June to Friday 31 July 2020. Officers can issue fixed penalty notices up to £100.00 for those who don’t follow the Orders.
South Hams District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Environment, Cllr Keith Baldry, said: “It’s really important that as many people as possible give us their views on how they feel about the existing Orders in their area. We have lots of dog owners in the South Hams and the majority are responsible and control their dogs perfectly well. We all need to live, work and play together so these Orders should help us to do that in harmony with others.
“We’d especially like to know residents’ thoughts on the new proposals for reducing large numbers of dogs being walked by only one person. Also the requirement that all dog walkers must always carry bags, or some other way to collect their dog’s waste, when they are in public spaces. Again this isn’t an issue for our responsible owners who we know already do this.
“If residents live in one of the five areas where new proposals have been suggested then we need to know what they think. Are the changes for the better or worse? Let us know.
“Please do tell us what you think by emailing our Environment Protection Team before the consultation ends on Friday 31 July.”
Once the consultation is closed, a decision will be made before any changes start from December 2020.
If you would like to share your thoughts about the proposals, please contact the Environmental Protection Team on: pspoconsultation@swdevon.gov.uk
Or by post to: Environmental Protection Team
South Hams District Council
Follaton House
Plymouth Road
Devon
TQ9 5NE
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