The Sedgewell Slipway car park (‘surfers’ car park) will be closed whilst the white lines are repainted from early morning on Tuesday March 2nd until the end of Wednesday 3rd.
Posts tagged beach
RNLI & COASTGUARD: Joint Warning For Coastal Conditions This Weekend
Public urged to take extra care as dangerous sea conditions predicted on the South West coast.
The RNLI and HM Coastguard are urging people to visit lifeguarded beaches and take extra care on Friday and Saturday as forecasts predict dangerous sea conditions, involving large swells, strong winds and spring tides.
Across exposed coastal areas in Devon and Cornwall, current forecasts for Friday and Saturday are predicting wave heights between 6-9 feet coupled with strong south westerly winds across the region. These conditions, alongside large spring tides, can result in a dangerous sea state and increase the risk of strong rip currents. If you see a red flag at a lifeguarded beach, do not enter the water, as it is unsafe for any water activities. If there are no flags, there are no lifeguards.
Spring tides and surging waves mean people could very easily get cut off by the incoming tide. Anyone heading to the coast is reminded of the importance of checking the tide times and ensuring they have enough time to return if they decide to venture further along the beach.
Steve Instance, RNLI water safety lead for the south west says:
‘When we experience conditions such as this, especially during the summer when the region is busy with visitors, it is incredibly important that those heading to the coast keep themselves safe by choosing a lifeguarded beach and visiting within the patrol hours of 10am-6pm.
‘With changeover days for holidaymakers on Fridays and Saturdays, those arriving to the area may not be up to date with local news and forecasts so could be caught unaware of the conditions.
‘RNLI lifeguards are there to offer advice so if you are unsure about anything, make sure you ask a lifeguard. They will be able to provide information on tide times and guide you to the safest area to swim which will be between the red and yellow flags. Anyone surfing should know their limits and always stay within the black and white flagged area.’
Director of HM Coastguard, Claire Hughes, says:
‘We’ve seen so many times how easy it is to get caught out by the sea.
‘Make sure you are always contactable at the coast by carrying a fully-charged mobile phone and if you get into trouble or see someone else in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.’
If you find yourself caught in a rip current, please adhere to the following safety advice:
1. Swim parallel to the shore until free of the rip and then head for shore
2. Do not try to swim against the rip current or you’ll get exhausted
3. Always raise your hand and shout for help
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
ENDS
ALL CHANGE ON BURGH ISLAND
With the recent change in ownership of Burgh Island has come a welcome change in management style. At a recent, very well-attended, Bigbury History Society event held by invitation in the Burgh Island Hotel’s spectacular Ganges Room, we were all treated both to a presentation by Duncan Gray, the Managing Director, and to some generous hospitality.
Duncan reviewed something of the hotel’s history but also revealed his far-sighted plans for redevelopment of the hotel and the Pilchard Inn, on the island, together with Warren Cottage and the Bay View cafe – which his business consortium has also purchased, on the mainland. Whilst maintaining the exclusivity of the hotel and developing its attractions as a high-class venue for social and business events, the plan is to welcome other visitors to the island, especially local people. Perhaps the most visible immediate manifestation of this plan are the changes to the Pilchard Inn, where the outside seating capacity has already been doubled, non-resident visitors are made welcome throughout the pub, and the basement cafe has been reopened.
Longer term, we were told amongst other things, about ambitious plans to develop the tidal Mermaid’s Pool, set amongst the island’s cliffs, which until recently had been used as a repository for unwanted junk and accumulated silt. For example, the natural shape of the rocks and good acoustics might make for a floating, under-lit stage in an amphitheatre similar to the iconic Minack Theatre in Cornwall. To widespread acclaim, the new owners have dropped the recently approved but highly controversial plans for a stand-alone hotel suite perched on the cliff top overlooking the Avon Estuary.
Local concerns about the future of Warren Cottage and the Bay View Cafe should be allayed because the future of both buildings now looks secure; Warren Cottage as residential accommodation for hotel staff and a revitalised, re-named Burgh View Cafe.
Plans are afoot to help develop closer local relationships by holding a fund-raising BBQ event in aid of the Hope Cove lifeboat in September – watch out for details!
See also :- https://www.devonlive.com/news/business/burgh-island-bought-with-pennies-1520038
Plan to Protect Public Toilets: NB this will affect BIGBURY-ON-SEA’S car park toilets
Toilets around the South Hams will be kept open thanks to a decision made by the District Council’s Executive this week.
A pay on entry system will now be installed around the District at many toilets; this will go towards their running costs and protect them from closure.
During their recent budget setting process, South Hams District Council agreed to look in detail at what it does with the non-statutory services. Public toilets are one of the services that the Council provides, but are not required to provide. Despite this the Council dearly wants to provide public toilets for the benefit of their residents, tourists and local businesses. This proposal will enable them to do so.
South Hams District Council currently spends close to £1m per annum providing and maintaining public toilets. With a predicted budget gap of £0.3 million, a pay on entry scheme is a way of helping to close the gap but continuing to provide a valuable service.
Cllr Rufus Gilbert, Executive Portfolio Holder for Commercial Services, said: “There’s no doubt that continuing to provide public toilets is important for residents, visitors and businesses in the South Hams. As a result the council was determined to find a way to protect them, despite the enormous pressures on our budget. Many local authorities throughout the UK have had to close their public toilets and rely instead on businesses to provide them – Manchester City Council, one of the largest councils in England, only have one council run public toilet!”
“As the Executive member with the responsibility for public toilets, I take my role very seriously and I have said before that the last thing that I want to do is to be responsible for closing toilets. I visit many of the toilets around the District while I am out and about, when I see something that is not satisfactory I speak to the team to make sure any issues are resolved to the best of our physical and financial ability. Securing additional funding for our toilets will not only help us keep them open but also in good working order.”
The proposed fee is 20p. The busiest toilets have been chosen to have the pay on entry system installed as these have high running costs:
- Bigbury
- Whitestrand
- Creek, Salcombe
- North Sands, Salcombe
- South Sands, Salcombe
- Coronation Road, Totnes
- Steamer Quay, Totnes
- Civic Hall, Totnes
- Fore Street, Kingsbridge
- Slapton Line
- Glanvilles Mill, Ivybridge
- Wembury
- Dittisham
- Mill Bay
- Ferry Steps
Councillors also agreed to look again at the Hope Cove toilets which receives a similarly high number of visitors in peak season.
The pay on entry system is expected to generate £16,000 in 2018/19 and £36,000 by 2019/20, income which will be used to continue to run the toilets.
Mill Bay toilets are a recent addition to the list, while Slapton Memorial toilets have been removed. The recent storm damage at these toilets has left the septic tank very close to the beach and at risk of failing in another storm. This could cause a serious pollution incident. Relocating the tank is unlikely to solve the problem, as well as being very expensive and so these toilets, sadly, will have to close.
Cllr Gilbert continued “The decision to close the toilets at Slapton Memorial has not been taken lightly. Storm Emma had a huge impact on the area and the beach has receded a long way inland very quickly. The old septic tank is now dangerously close to the beach. Relocating it would only be a very expensive temporary measure and so reluctantly, we will have to close the toilets to prevent any risk of pollution on the shore.”
ENDS
VENUS CAFE – application to extend premises licence
Bigbury Parish Council has been told that SHDC’s Licensing Department has received an application from the Venus Company Ltd to vary the premises licence for Venus Café, Lower Car Park, The Warren, Bigbury on Sea, Kingsbridge, TQ7 4AZ.
The application is to:
Include the sale of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises, Monday to Sunday between the hours of 16:00 and 18:30 (currently 11:00 to 16:00 and 18:30 to 22:30) and;
to remove the condition that alcohol must be sold as ancillary to food.
This item will be included for discussion on the Agenda of the Parish Council meeting on 14th February. Any interested parties should attend to make their views known.
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