NOTES FROM THE NDDC BEACH OWNERS'/MANAGERS' MEETING

FRIDAY, 20th. FEBRUARY 2004 – CIVIC CENTRE, BARNSTAPLE

 

 

LIFEGUARDING:  Jon Parkinson:

bullet Only a limited service on beaches – Health & Safety rests with the Beach Owners
bullet New provision to be provided in 2005, and contract will run for 5 years
bullet Present service for 2004 is as before – flagged areas during the summer season
bullet Potential providers are being contacted re. provision from 2005 onwards – NDDC seeking to obtain an improved service for the current funding or less.   No discussions have yet taken place.  NDDC to advertise in March/April for expressions of interest from contractors.  Announcement to be made in August/September regarding the 2005 provision.  The matter cannot go to NDDC committee until confirmed expressions of interest have been received.
bullet Full risk assessments will have to be done by providers – this is bound to highlight the extension of the bathing season.  (RoSPA has prepared a report on Beach Safety).   Easter and the Half Terms at Whitsun and in October are now very busy, as are weekends.
bullet If a charge is made for public to use an open beach, it is becoming incumbent upon owners to provide some sort of safety cover
bullet Meeting between TDC, NDDC and RNLI has taken place, where RNLI has given basic information of the service it is able to provide and the amount of equipment and funding that could be put in by RNLI itself.  There is also the option of exploring other funding sources.
bullet NDDC was requested to investigate who is responsible for accidents/safety below both the mean high and mean low water marks.

BEACH CLEANING:

bullet NDDC Overview and Scrutiny Committee is looking into the budget for beach cleaning
bullet Most beach rubbish is seaborne litter (mostly from USA), not from beach users.  However, there is a problem with bags of dog faeces.  ENCAMS is only now beginning to research beach litter
bullet Guidelines for composting beach rubbish are required.  This is a grey area – a licence is needed to remove it, but there are exemptions for composting.  Removal is a very costly and contractors are difficult to find.
bullet Removal of seaweed, etc. is required for Resort Beach/Blue Flag season.  Out of season it is often left in situ, as it is not environmentally friendly to remove it.

WATER QUALITY ISSUES:

Environment Agency:

bullet Little further information beyond that given at previous meeting
bullet Under the new Bathing Water Directive (BWD) the standards will be assessed on a 3-year rolling average of monitoring results
bullet Environment Agency (EA) looking this year at beaches that failed Guideline (Blue Flag) standards, and will be doing pre-season checks.
bullet EA has produced a brochure: "Greener Camping" for site operators, and a card for visitor packs: "Greener Camping Tips for Holiday Makers"
bullet Good presentation on BWD on DEFRA website – go to "environmental", "water" and then "bathing water".  Those beaches predicted to fail the new BWD are shown on the website.  The BWD will probably become mandatory in 2012
bullet European beaches use different sampling methods to those used in UK.  The new BWD will standardise the methods used

South West Water:

bullet A schedule of all of the SWW Combined Storm Overflow improvements in the Taw Torridge Estuary was circulated:

BARNSTAPLE (TAW) CSO's: Anchorwood, Oakland Park, Pilton Quay, Portmarsh, Pottington, Rock Park, Velator Bridge, Combrew Lane, Fremington Bridge North, Fremington Pill, Muddlebridge, Sheiling Road   (All these are due for delivery before 31.12.04)

BIDEFORD (TORRIDGE) CSO's:  Bridgeland Street*, Cleave PS*, Ethelwynne Brown PS, High Street*, Instow A, Laurel Avenue*, Lower Meddon Street*, Moreton Park Road, New Road*, Raleigh Hill, Skern, Torridge Mount*, Torrington Street PS, Bideford Fine Screening Installation (Victoria Park), Yelland STW, Westcombe Lane, Appledore PS  (All those marked with an asterisk needed no improvement, all the others with the exception of Appledore, Westcombe Lane, Ethelwynne Brown and Victoria Park are complete or will be by 31st. March 2004.  The four remaining will be completed before November 2004)