TAW TORRIDGE ESTUARY FORUM=

NEWS= LETTER UPDATE – 4th. OCTOBER, 2007

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TTEF Visit to Braunton Marsh:<= /span>
EA Bathing Water Monitoring - 2007:<= /o:p>
Estuary Geomorphology Study: Date changed= :
North Devon’s Biosphere Reserve: Strategy:<= /li>
Devon Maritime Forum – 1st. November:=
Explore Braunton Open Day: 17th October:<= o:p>
North Devon Ferry Project:
The Birds of Lundy - Book Launch:
Braunton – Last of the Sailing Coasters: Book:
Other Information Items:
Consultations:
Website Information:

Dates of Forthcoming TTEF Meetings:<= /o:p>

<= span lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>_________________________________= ____

TTEF VISIT TO BRAUN= TON MARSH

Members of the TTEF were hosted on Saturday, 15th. March 2007 on a visit to Braun= ton Marsh by the Braunton Marsh Internal Drainage Board and the Braunton Marsh Inspectors.

We all met initially at the Braunton Countryside Centre and, having been inv= ited to sit on straw bales on top of agricultural trailers, we were then towed= around the Marsh by tractors driven by the marsh farmers.

Due to the recent outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease, it was not advisable f= or us to be taken to those parts of the Marsh not generally open to public access. However, from our v= antage point high up on the trailers, we had an excellent view of everything on = the Marsh. Richard Dyer, John Hartnoll and the other marsh farmers gave us a = running commentary on the history, the ecology, the wildlife, the day-to-day management of the water levels, and life on the Marsh.<= /p>

Following the visit, we were all entertained to a wonderful cream tea at the Vivian Moon Centre, and I can guarantee that all of those present that day did n= ot lose any weight!

Our thanks to Richard Dyer and the Braunton Marsh Internal Drainage Board, an= d to John Hartnoll and the Braunton Marsh Inspectors for a most enjoyable afternoon.

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY<= o:p>

BATHING BEACH MONIT= ORING:

SAUNTON, INSTOW AND WESTWARD HO!

From previous newsletters and reports to TTEF meetings, you will be aware that= Instow Beach has failed the EU Bathing = Water Imperative Standard for the 2007 Bathing

<= span lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>

business, and of the people who l= ive in and visit North Devon.

In view of the timescale involved, I should be grateful if you would send your comments direct to Andy, with a copy to m= e. His contact details are:

Andrew Bell

North Devon’s Biosphere Reserve Co-ord= inator

Bideford Station

Railway Terrace

East-the-Water

Bideford

North Devon. EX39 4BB

Telephone: (01237) 423655

e-mail: andrew.bell@devon.gov.uk

DEVON MARITIME FORUM:

BARNSTAPLE HOTEL – 1st. NOVEMBER, 2007

For your information, the Devon Maritime Forum= will be meeting in North Devon for the firs= t time. The Forum will take place on Thu= rsday, 1st. November between 10.00 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. and the Registration Fee is £25 per delegate. The Registration Form is available from:

Jim Masters,

Environment, Economy and Culture Directorate,<= o:p>

Devon County Council,

Lucombe House,

County Hall,

Topsham Road,

Exeter<= /st1:place>. EX2 4QW

and completed forms and payment must be forwar= ded to Jim by 22nd. October 2007.

EXPLORE BRAUNTON PROJECT:

“BRING YOUR RECOLLECTIONS DAY”

AT BRAUNTON PARISH HALL

17th. OCTOBER 2007 - 11.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

Katie James, the newly-appointed officer for t= he Explore Braunton Project, will be running an Open Day for Braunton reside= nts at Braunton Parish Hall on 17th. October, 2007 between 11.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m.

The aim of the day will be to introduce the Ex= plore Braunton project, to begin the process of recruiting prospective volunteer guides for the area, and to gather recollections (and, where possible, co= py historical photographs and materials) from local residents concerning Braunton Burrows, Great Field, the Marshes, the Beacon/West Hill, Velator Quay and Saunton Sands.

NORTH DEVON FERRY PROJECT:=

As previously reported, you will be aware that= the Appledore/Instow Ferry has not been in operation during this past summer. Up until then, ther= e had been a ferry connecting the two villages (and at times other places around the Taw Torridge Estuary) for over 360 years.

You will no doubt have seen articles in the lo= cal papers this week about a new Ferry project, whose objectives are:

&midd= ot; &nbs= p; to establish a not-for-profit/community-interest company to ensure the long-= term future of the Ferry. The co= mpany would be self-financing.

Breaking the Silence – a new play in Celebration of the Life of Rachel Carso= n

(an American marine biologist and= nature writer, whose landmark book “Silent Spring” in 1962 is often = said to have launched the worldwide environmental movement)<= /p>
Woolacombe Village Hall – 1= 8th. October at 7.30 p.m.

Box Office: (01271) 862453 or 862= 781 – Tickets: £5

Solent Forum: New Website= :

www.solentforum.org

Devon Wildlife Trust:

Baywatching – Lyme Bay Mapping and Management

4th. and final edition=

srees@devonwildlifetrust.org=

www.devonwildlifetrust.org

CONSULTATIONS:=

NDDC Application No= : 45141:

Erection of replacement foodstore with associa= ted access, car parking, petrol filling station, servicing, landscaping and l= ink road at

Brian Ford’s Discount Store & associ= ated land,

Seven Brethren Bank, Ba= rnstaple

www.northdevon.gov.uk/planning

Planning Officer: Mr. K. Bines

Emu Ltd:

<= span lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Application for Government Permis= sion

<= span lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Area 486 (= Western Bristol Channel) Aggregrate Extraction Licence

<= span lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>for Resource Management Associati= on

<= span lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>www.emulimited.com

<= span lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Non-technical Summary available f= rom me upon request

Deadline: 12th. October 2007

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Marine and Fisheries Agency:

Application Area 472 Culver Sand

<= span lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Environmental Impact Assessment a= nd Natural Habitats (Extraction of Minerals by Marine Dredging) (England and Northern Ireland) Regulatio= ns 2007

<= span lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Volume 1: Report of Consultation<= o:p>

<= span lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Volume 2: Environmental Statement Supplement

<= span lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Appendix to the Macrobenthic Ecol= ogy Technical Report

<= span lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Marine and Fisheries Agency<= /o:p>

<= st1:Street w:st=3D"on">3-8 Whitehall Place,

<= st1:City w:st=3D"on">London. SW1A 2HH

<= span lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Telephone: 0207270 8646

<= span lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>e-mail: nigel.bayliss@mfa.gsi.gov.uk=

<= span lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>website: www.mfa.gov.uk

<= span lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Note: the above documents are ava= ilable from me upon request

Deadline: 30th. October 2007

<= u>_________________________________= _

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I should be grateful to receive any comments that member organisations wish= to make on the above consultations as soon as possible=

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Season. This matter is on the agenda for= the forthcoming TTEF meeting, and will be debated further then.

TAW TORRIDGE ESTUARY GEOMORPHOLOGY STUDY:

CHANGE OF DATE

Please note that this presentation by Andrew Bell, the Manager of the Northern Devon Coast and Countryside Service = and North Devon’s Biosphere Reserve Co-ordinato= r, will now take place on:

Wednesd= ay, 31st. October 2007 at 7.00 p.m.

and not on Wednesday, 14th. November 2007 as previously notified - Andrew Bel= l is no longer available for the 14th. November, 2007 and the date has, theref= ore, had to be re-arranged.

On Wednesday, 31st. October, the doors of the Parish Hall will be open from = 6.30 p.m. onwards, and we hope to see a wide range of people present to comment upon Professor Pethick’s Study, and to contribute to the forthcoming consultation on the Shoreline Management Plan.

The Study has already been presented to those living on Torridgeside, in Nort= ham and Westward Ho! and they have had the opportunity to comment. The TTEF has now sought to bring= the Study to those living along the River Taw, so that they, too, and anyone = else who missed the first presentation, will have their opportunity to contrib= ute. At a time of climate change= and sea-level rise, the Study is of interest and importance for everyone livi= ng around the Taw Torridge Estuary.

<= span lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Please ensure that everyone in yo= ur organisation and community knows about this presentation. A poster is attached, which we s= hould be grateful if you would circulate as widely as possible.

NORTH DEVON’S BIOSPHERE RESERVE

STRATEGY:

The consultation on the Biosphere Reserve Strategy has now been extended to 26th. October 2007. The Summary of the Strategy was distributed at the last TTEF meeting, and can also be found on the TTEF website:

www.ttef.o= rg.uk

The full strategy, the action plan and the reply form are available on the Biosphere Reserve website:

http://www.northdevonbiosphere.org.uk/

I had hoped to be able to set up a sub-committee to look at a response to t= his strategy, but this has not proved possible.

Andy is particularly interested to know:<= /o:p>

does your organisation wish to be involved in the Biosphere Reserve?=
what actions your organisation would like to see take place in the future= ?
how we can, collectively and individually, use the opportunity of this pres= tigious Biosphere Reserve designation for the benefit of the environment, of=

&midd= ot; &nbs= p; to use amphibious DUKWs, which would provide access a= t all states of the tide, and which could accommodate bicycles and be fully accessible for those with disabilities.&= nbsp; The DUKWs would be able to carry 28 passengers and 2 crew.

to expand the Ferry operation to run throughout the year (weather, sea conditions and tides permitting), and to follow a regular operating timetable. Ferry and pleasure trips would operate between Barn= staple, Bideford, Instow, Appledore, Braunton and Fremington on a bus-stop schedule and leisure boat basis.

The Chairman of the ND Ferry Project Committee, Dusan Beim, would welcome an opportunity to speak about the project to any interested individuals or organisations, and to discuss any ways in which= they could support this project for the benefit of North Devon. Mr. Beim’s contact details are:

Dusan Beim

Telephone: (01285 821102 or 07801 238120)=

e-mail: beimhome@tiscali.co.uk

I have placed this item on the agenda of the T= TEF meeting on Monday, 15th. October, and copies of the Information Brief on = the project will be made available at that time.

THE BIRDS OF LUNDY – BOOK LAUNCH

I was contacted by Tim Jones and Tim Davis to = let me know that their new book “The Birds of Lundy” has now been published. This is a not-for-profit venture, published jointly by the Devon Bird Watching and Preservation Society and the Lundy Field Society, and all proceeds from t= he sales of the book will go to support conservation projects on Lundy. If you wish to obtain a copy of = this book, an order form and details can be found on the website:

ww= w.birdsoflundy.org.uk

or copies can be obtained from: R.M. Young Booksellers in South Molton, Walter Henry’s Bookshop in Bideford, Berrynarbor Community Shop, the Lundy Island Shop and the MS Oldenburg Sh= op - Paperback £18.95; Hardback £35.00.

BRAUNTON – HOME OF THE LAST

SAILING COASTERS: BOOK LAUNCH

This book by Robert D’Arcy Andrew MBE, a= bout the maritime trading story of Braunton, is now on sale from the Braunton & District Museum, The Bakehouse Centre, Caen Street, Braunton. EX33 2ED for £12.00 (+ £2.50 post/packing). All proceeds go to aid the Braunton & District Museum.

OTHER INFORMATION I= TEMS:

<= st1:place w:st=3D"on">Devon Bird Watching & Preservation Society:

<= span lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>New series of illustrated talks a= t The Park School, Barnstaple at 7.30 p.m.

<= span lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Enquiries: Margaret Phillips (012= 71) 883161

<= span lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>

Maritime Volunteer Service:

<= span lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>The MVS Monthly: Western Approach= es

<= span lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>Enquiries: paul@fronteras.eclipse.co.uk=

<= span lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>and

Sea Vision UK<= /st1:country-region>: Maritime Plymouth – Newsletter – September

Maritime Volunteer Service and MSC Napoli

<= span lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>www.maritimeplymouth.co.uk

<= span lang=3DEN-GB style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'>

PLEASE NOTE:

Amongst the&n= bsp; information contained on the TTEF website,

www.ttef.o= rg.uk

= copies of the following are also available:

-= &nbs= p; Taw Torridge Estuary Users’ Guide: containing :

Estuary Code of Conduct

Estuary Zoning System

Estuary Speed Limits

-= &nbs= p; Taw Torridge Estuary Free Registration Scheme:

-= &nbs= p; Taw Torridge Estuary Incident Log:

-= &nbs= p; Taw Torridge Estuary Moorings Code of Practice:

-= &nbs= p; Taw Torridge Estuary Crab Tiling Code of Conduct:

-= &nbs= p; TTEF Management Study for Braunton Marsh:

-= &nbs= p; Taw Torridge Estuary Geomorphology Study – Executive Summary:

-= &nbs= p; All recent TTEF Newsletters:

-= &nbs= p; All recent TTEF Minutes:

-= &nbs= p; Regular Reports and Information on:

Braunton Burrows and

North Devon’s Biosphere Reserve

Bideford Harb= our and Estuary Pilotage<= /span>

= DATES OF FORTHCOMING TTEF MEETINGS:=

Monday, 15th October 2007 at Barnstaple Civic = Centre

Monday, 21st January 2008 at Bi= deford Town Hall

All meetings to commence at 7.00 p.m

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Rose Day

Chairman<= /span>

Taw Torridge Estuary= Forum

The Crow’s Nes= t

Marine Parade

INSTOW

Bideford,=

= North = Devon. EX39 4JN

Telephone: (01271) 860686

e-mail: Geoff.Rose.Day@ukgateway.= net

website: www.ttef.org.uk=