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The Bradworthy Wind Turbines
Councillor
Christie's Weblog
From your Torridge District Councillor Peter Christie
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13th May '07
Anyone looking at the river Torridge either side of Bideford cannot help but notice the changing position of the deep channel and the associated sand (or rather mud) banks. This has occurred since the new bridge was constructed and the quay extended out. Another major change in the two estuaries has been the building of the new bridge at Barnstaple – and between them they seem to have completely altered the pattern of deposition at the rivers’ mouth. Indeed in the latest Taw-Torridge Estuary Forum Newsletter there is a warning from Andrew Atkinson of the North Devon Sea Anglers that the Bar and the safe channels at the mouth of the estuaries are moving and that ‘anyone crossing the Bar should be very vigilant and take great care’. It would be a disaster if this proved to be a major problem so that the construction of two new road bridges led to restrictions on Bideford’s port. I have said before that as oil supplies decline so more freight will have to return to both coastal shipping and the railways.
Those interested in the future of Northam Burrows will recall my writing about recent changes to the pebble ridge with the story having been covered at far greater length in subsequent articles in the Journal. TDC recently wrote to Natural England (the successor body to English Nature) for their views on the management of the Burrows and received a long and fascinating reply which basically said that Torridge, who have responsibility for flood defence in this area, can do nothing to affect ‘natural processes’ i.e. repair any breaches or weaknesses in the ridge. Furthermore ‘Developments do not necessarily have to take place within the boundary of a site to cause damage.’ This effectively means that the council cannot even carry out work between Hartland and Westward Ho! in case it affects the ridge and Burrows. Bearing in mind that global warming and a consequent rise in sea level could see the ridge irretrievably breached this is an extremely serious state of affairs. Removal of the ridge could see the old rubbish tip scoured out and the full force of the waves hitting Saunton beach. I have asked Torridge officers to contact Natural England again to ask for clarification on these points as I am not sure they have fully thought through the possible consequences resulting from their expressed position.
The long continuing saga of the lakes in the Kenwith Valley Nature Reserve continues. Last year the Devon Birdwatchers drained the main lake after moving the fish to Gammaton in order to dig out accumulated mud but work was delayed to allow the mud to dry out and be easily removed. Unfortunately, and rather late in the day, the Environment Agency then announced that the excavated material couldn’t be left within the Reserve – even though that is where it originated from.. This hiccup meant that excavation couldn’t start before the Winter rains came again so the Birdwatchers have had to put off their plans until this year when the bird-nesting season is over i.e. July/August. Hopefully the lake will be back in all its beauty by Autumn. Sadly since the fish were removed some anti-social fishermen have broken through to the second lake and begun illegally fishing there. Torridge is now being pressed to prosecute some of them under the existing byelaws but one has to wonder how soon before another cygnet dies after becoming entangled in casually discarded fishing line as happened before? If anyone sees illegal fishing going on they are urged to phone the solicitor at Torridge Council.
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