News, views and Events in and around Bigbury, South Devon

Posts in category Other

Road Closure – Bantham to Aunemouth Cross

October 8, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

To: clerk.bigburypc@gmail.com

Dear Sir/Madam

I am writing to inform you that I will be submitting an application for a road closure from Clock Cottage to the dead end on the road known as Bantham to Aunemouth Cross. This is to enable the safety of the workforce and the public while new electricity cables are put underground to supply new pump house in the area.

The proposed dates are 13/1/2020 to 17/1/2020

Please let me know if you have any concerns regarding this.

Thank you

Julie Drew
Western Power Distribution
Plymouth

Other

BIGBURY GOLF CLUB DEVELOPMENTS

September 27, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts
BIGBURY GOLF CLUB DEVELOPMENTS

Other
,

The water conservation challenge

September 15, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

At a recent ‘Water Resilience Summit”, organised by the Westcountry Rivers Trust, there was concern expressed about the impact of climate change on the future availability of water for domestic use. Wildly fluctuating temperatures and rainfall patterns mean that water supply may become much more unpredictable and problematic. Water companies can control supplies through management of supply (quantity & quality) and delivery (improving infrastructure, reducing leaks, better treatment methods) but demand is largely in the hands of consumers. Changing demographics and socio-economic trends have meant that the national UK average for an individual’s daily water consumption is 140 litres/day (l/d). Denmark’s equivalent is only 88l/d. The UK target is 50 l/d!

What can you to to help meet this ambitious target to ensure that supplies do not run short? The answer’s are obvious: don’t use the bath or, alternatively, share the bath water with a friend; don’t flush the lavatory every time you use it – if it’s yellow, let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down; don’t run the tap when brushing your teeth; use a rain water butt to store water for the garden instead of using tap water; generally, be far more water conservation conscious and pass the message on to others.

By the use of relatively small measures, everybody can help to secure a water resilient future for our children and grandchildren.

Bigbury Parish Council, Other
,

CHANGES TO THE WATER ABSTRACTION LICENSING SYSTEM

September 13, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

The Environment Agency has asked the parish council to alert the public to changes in the water abstraction licensing system.

If you or your business abstracts more than 4399 gallons of water /day from ground or surface water sources you may need to apply for a licence before 31 December 2019.

Call 03708 506506 or email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk for help.

environment, Other

The Avon Estuary Patrol

September 3, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

Following an outcry at the Avon Estuary Forum in 2018 and some intensive lobbying by the Aune Conservation Association (ACA), readers may know that we managed to reverse the SHDC decision to withdraw the Avon Patrol. We believe this service is vital to maintain the safety and security of recreational estuary users during the summer months of July, August and September, especially given the upsurge in popularity of kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, wild swimming, etc. over the last few years.

Discussions about the nature of an agreement to underpin the patrol have been going on since February 2019 but the long-awaited drafting of a formal contract by SHDC legal services has galvanised thinking and we have now arrived at a situation similar to what existed in the past i.e. a contract to provide the service between SHDC (customer) and the Bantham Estate (provider) with voluntary annual contributions of £500 each from the Avon Valley Waterski Club, the ACA and the Duchy of Cornwall being made to the Bantham Estate. SHDC will contribute £2500/year. The total annual cost will be £4000 and the contract will run for 5 years after which it will be reviewed.

SHDC-licensed Bantham Estate staff and licensed boats are out on the water on a very frequent basis and will report regularly to the Salcombe Harbourmaster about the conduct of the patrol and any necessary interventions with the public to uphold the byelaws. Bantham Estate started operating the patrol in July this year, prior to the contractual details being finalised, as an act of good faith.

Whilst the ACA, like the other groups, is very pleased about this outcome, the increased contribution represents a very considerable chunk of our reserves over a 5-year period. Unlike the other contributing groups, the ACA as an environmental conservation charity does not have any regular source of income and the extra £250 is a large sum for us to find on an ongoing basis for the altruistic purpose of conserving this very important recreational and tourism asset for the general public. Therefore, we shall need to consider how to continue funding this valuable service in the longer term. Our participation in the South Hams Lottery is one new source of extra funds and if you would like to help us to keep the estuary safe and secure, whilst standing a chance of winning some prize money, you could make a donation via the following link – https://www.seamoorlotto.co.uk/support/aune-conservation-association

Thank you for your support.

Stuart Watts

Other

5G an opportunity for rural pubs?

September 3, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

See link for details:- https://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Article/2019/08/28/What-impact-can-5G-have-on-pubs

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN, Other

SAVE KINGSTON FIRE STATION!

August 18, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

A MESSAGE FROM LOUISE WAINWRIGHT (BIGBURY NEWS):-

The Kingston Fire Service is run by four volunteers who are not paid a retainer fee to be available from their real jobs.
Three of them are local farmers and one of them is a local electrician. Their beepers go and they rush to the fire engine at Kingston.
They are only paid when they are on call or being trained. They get paid a ridiculous pittance. Shameful.
They have the same expertise as the Retained Crews at Modbury, Kingsbridge, Plymstock and Ivybridge.
They are allowed to take the engine out with only two crew available but one of them has to be trained in risk assessment to determine if additional resources are needed.

The Retained Crews at Modbury, Kingsbridge, Plymstock and Ivybridge may all have other full time jobs and get called out by a beeper. The difference is that they are paid a retainer fee to be ‘available.
The Retained Crews are only available if they have sufficient firefighters logged on to the system as ‘available’ – so the four other local fire stations will NOT always be ‘available’ for a call out.
Its not like the movies – they are not all eating Mary Berry curries and slide down a pole when the alarm goes off!

The Kingston Fire Crew are often called out to SUPPORT the Retained Crews and the local firefighters at Modbury are keen to KEEP Kingston fire engine. I have met up with both Watch Managers from Kingston and Modbury to confirm these facts.

The risks to our Community appear to be:

Our rural location and potential holiday traffic jams delaying access from more distant fire crews.
There is the risk that occasionally one or more of the retained fire crews may not be operational due to insufficient firefighters available at the time.
The high percentage of householders (65% in Bigbury on Sea) who are second home owners means that the alarm may not be raised so quickly for household fires.
The high percentage of elderly householders may mean they are less able to tackle a fire themselves whilst waiting for the fire engine to arrive.
Exposed coastal locations may lead to fires been fanned by wind.

Only returned Safer Together questionnaires will ‘count’ in the Devon and Somerset review of the services. Many rural fire services are facing closure. Petitions and Letters do not count.
The questionnaire has a section for the Respondent to declare if they ‘represent an Association’. Someone could respond on behalf of the Bigbury Parish Council, as well as complete a personal questionnaire.
The Deadline is 20 September.
The Kingston Fire Engine covers the total area from Plymstock to Paignton and even goes up to Dartmoor. It has been out on a shout on both Dartmoor and Paignton this year!

I have hard copies of the Questionnaire available now and have sent out the following information to local people (apologies if you have already received this!!)

The Safer Together questionnaires (about the closure of Kingston Fire Station) are now available for you to collect from the following locations:

Long Easton, Easton – call me first 01548 810991 / 07908 525663
Holywell Stores
Unwind Salon
Pickwick Inn
Pilchard Inn
Discovery Surf
The Beach Shop
Fryer Tucks
NISA shop at Challaborough
Golf Club

Please let as many people as possible in Bigbury, Modbury, AG, Kingston, Ringmore, California Cross, Loddiswell, Bantham, Churchstow, Kingsbridge, Ivybridge, Plymstock etc. know about this.
If any other shops/Collection Points want copies of the Questionnaire – please call me. Thanks.

You can also request your own copy to be posted to you by calling the Fire Service team on 01392 872347
It can also be completed on line. https://www.engagespace.co.uk/devon/devonfireandrescue/survey/ConRespForm.aspx?consult_Id=2823&request_response=new&status=&criteria=I

Other

ASH DIE-BACK DISEASE IN DEVON

August 8, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

Please see the following link:- Ash Dieback Postcard A6 proof2

Other
,