The file above provides a quide to Bigbury Parish Council’s policy on the challenges of climate change and loss of biodiversity.
Posts tagged environment
SWW HOSEPIPE BAN: HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOU?
Many people are confused about what SWW’s hosepipe ban means for them. For details, see link:-https://www.southwestwater.co.uk/environment/water-resources/hosepipeban/
SEWAGE LEAKS ON TO BEACH AT B-0-S & CHALLABOROUGH – FURTHER UPDATE
The Environment Agency has informed the Parish Council that the leakage from the Sewage Treatment Works at BoS on to the beaches at Bigbury-on-Sea and Challaborough is caused by a ruptured discharge pipe, carrying ‘treated’ sewage; hence the 24/7 tanker operation to relieve the load from the SWW storage tank. As of 5.30pm on 25th May, Environmental Health (SHDC) have told the Parish Council that the leakage has stopped because tankers are ensuring nothing remains in the holding tank. The tanker operation will continue to ensure this remains the case!
Divers will be inspecting the blocked pipe out at sea forthwith and, presumably, work will continue to fix the broken pipe on land.
Meanwhile, the beach warning signs to ‘avoid the sea’ are to be removed as soon as possible but will be reinstated if any leakage resumes, by authority of the Environment Agency.
Anybody noticing leakage from the cliff face should contact the Environment Agency on their toll-free, 24/7 number 0800 807060.
NOTE FROM SWW (owned by Pennon Group) to Parish Council. RECEIVED 26 May 2023:
Please find below response to your further question.
The effluent from Bigbury Sewage Treatment Works (STW) is fully secondary biologically treated* and is well within the parameters of its discharge permit. UV disinfection is not considered a requirement by the EA under the permit for this STW and the bathing waters at Challaborough, Bigbury on Sea North and Bigbury on Sea South consistently meet Excellent standards (as monitored by the Environment Agency) and have done for the last few years.
Please be reassured that we have taken the decision to tanker from the STW to minimise any discharge, not due to any concerns we have regarding water quality (for which we will continue to sample), but rather due to the location of the leak and any concerns this may cause.
*EDITOR’S NOTE:- Secondary treatment (mostly biological wastewater treatment) is the removal of biodegradable organic matter (in solution or suspension) from sewage or similar kinds of wastewater. The aim is to achieve a certain degree of effluent quality in a sewage treatment plant suitable for the intended disposal or reuse option. A “primary treatment” step often precedes secondary treatment, whereby physical phase separation is used to remove settleable solids. During secondary treatment, biological processes are used to remove dissolved and suspended organic matter measured as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). These processes are performed by microorganisms in a managed aerobic or anaerobic process depending on the treatment technology. Bacteria and protozoa consume biodegradable soluble organic contaminants (e.g. sugars, fats, and organic short-chain carbon molecules from human waste, food waste, soaps and detergent) while reproducing to form cells of biological solids. Secondary treatment is widely used in sewage treatment and is also applicable to many agricultural and industrial wastewaters.
JOIN THE ‘AVON CHAMPIONS’
For the benefit of existing Aune Conservation Association members who might be wondering what this poster is about, I write to introduce you to an experiment!
This idea is not intended to be a replacement for the ACA but it might manage to breathe new life into an organisation that has become to seem tired and somewhat moribund with the passage of time and arrival of exciting new social media opportunities. Like most of society, we have moved on from newsletters sent by post to email updates and, now, instant messaging via mobile phones! The hope is that through this mechanism we might recruit new members, enthuse some physically fit and more youthful volunteers and, eventually, help our river and associated wildlife to thrive. At least, I’m willing to try and see what happens!
On Saturday 18th March, The Sustainable South Hams Rivers Assembly was held (the first of its kind in the UK) and saw around 150 project, group and community leaders gather to share knowledge, discuss projects and develop new ideas.
The rivers of the South Hams, as with all rivers across the UK, are under intense pressure. Agricultural runoff, sewage pollution, climate change and disruptive infrastructure are among the many factors causing harm to these vital arteries of our landscape. Many groups are working to try and protect our rivers, their wildlife and surrounding ecology, but they can end up working in isolation, reinventing the wheel and lacking connection to one another. The Rivers Assembly, held in Kingsbridge on the 18th March, was Sustainable South Hams’ plan to connect the dots between these many organisations and their important work. Having been somewhat sceptical at first, I am wiling to support this new initiative as something that might help in improving the water quality and biodiversity of the Aune along the entire length of the river in the fullness of time.
In this poster, Louise Wainwright offers the opportunity to join a new group of so-called ‘Avon River Champions’, members of which can communicate very easily via WhatsApp.
If you know of anybody who might be interested in developing this experiment, please ask them to join the ‘Avon Champions’, by use of the link – https://chat.whatsapp.com/HGS11MT2fdY7MOyag3lygu
BIGBURY DECLARES A ‘CLIMATE EMERGENCY’
For the avoidance of any doubt, the following is an important extract from the Oct 2022 Minutes of Bigbury Parish Council
14.0. Climate Emergency
This item was added by the Chairman as a late addition to the Agenda. VS thought that the principle of declaring an ‘Emergency’, was sensible, whether effective or not at parish level, e.g. planning applications. The question of whether the NP could be reviewed to include sustainable polices was raised and advised it could be after 5 years from final approval and that would mean in 3 years time for BPC. However BPC felt there was no reason not to include sustainable policies in its consideration of planning applications and that ongoing consideration of sustainable issues would result in increasing enlightment and action for BPC to play a part in signaling such issues to the parish and should be included in reviews of the NP. VS commented that sustainable policies in the original submission of the NP had been rejected by the Inspector because at the time they were not included in the the National Planning Policy Framework but that that should not prevent the Parish from producing a Carbon Plan. VS proposed support for the declaration, CC seconded and Councillor support was unanimous.
Residents encouraged to sign up now for March garden waste collections
Residents of the South Hams who want to sign up to the new fortnightly garden waste collection service are being encouraged to sign up before 22 January, to ensure the service can be as efficient as possible.
Thousands of residents have already signed up for the service since subscriptions went live on 1 November. Anyone in the district can sign up; an annual £49 subscription covers collections for one brown wheelie bin, with a maximum of two subscriptions for two bins per household.
The first collections will begin in March. The Council is encouraging everyone who wants their first collection in March to sign up by 22 January. This is so Council staff have enough time to create the collection rounds and get everything ready ahead of launch. The more people that sign up by 22 January, the more robust and efficient the rounds will be.
Everyone will still be able to sign up after 22 January, but your starting date may be delayed.
Cllr Keith Baldry, South Hams Executive Member for Environment, said: “We’d love to see as many residents as possible signed up to the new garden waste collection service by 22 January. This will allow us to create the most efficient and best collection routes possible for our subscribers.
“Our team have been working very hard to ensure we’re ready to provide the district with a new and improved garden waste collection service in the spring. We want to reassure residents that the annual subscription fee will purely cover the cost of the service, with no profit being made. Compared to what private companies charge for collections, the annual fee represents good value for money.”
Residents can sign up to the new service in two ways:
The quickest and easiest way to sign up is on our website: www.southhams.gov.uk/gardenwaste – the website is full of information and useful FAQs on the service.
Alternatively, call us:
You can call us on 01803 861234. We expect phone lines to be busy, so there may be a wait.
Residents can keep their garden waste wheelie bin even if they choose not to subscribe to this service. Anyone who decides not to sign up to the service and would like to have their brown bin removed can fill out our online contact form at: www.southhams.gov.uk/gardenwaste
Those who decide not to sign up for the service can still take their garden waste to all three recycling centres in the South Hams. Full details, including opening hours, are available online here: South Hams Recycling Centres
Alternatively, people can find out more on home composting possibilities here: Recycle Devon – How to Compost
ENDS
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