Listen Live

Teignmouth doesn't want Exmouth's waste

Thursday, 5 November 2020 08:10

By Daniel Clark, local democracy reporter

Teignmouth sludge protest 2019 (courtesy David Cox, LDRS)

Campaigners begrudge the sludge

Calls have been made to suspend a licence that allows dredged waste from Exmouth Marina to be dumped at sea.

Teignmouth residents were outraged in 2018 when its beaches suddenly turned black because the spoil was being deposited off nearby Sprey Point.

Following angry protests, the Marine Maritime Organisation suspended the licence that MarineSpace Ltd, on behalf of Exmouth Marina Ltd, had been granted for maintenance dredging and disposal of 10,000 tonnes of material.

But in September 2020 the MMO lifted the suspension and allowed Exmouth Marina to restart dredging operations, with the waste being taken to a disused offshore disposal site approximately 7.7 km off Teignmouth, which they said should ensure the beaches don’t turn black.

Teignbridge District Council’s executive committee has raised questions around the sampling methodology used and agreed to ask the MMO to suspend the licence while a review takes place.

Cllr Jackie Hook, executive member for climate change, coastal protection, and flooding, recalled "the environmental catastrophe when black sludge was washed up on Teignmouth beach as a result of disposal of waste at Sprey Point. Our principle objections relates to sampling, as surely it is obvious that without knowing what is dredged, it is impossible to determine permission to dredge.”

She said that the council could choose to do nothing, they could support a judicial review or they could lobby the MMO for clarification of sampling methodology.

Sludge at Sprey Point, Teignmouth (courtesy: David Cox/LDRS)

Cllr Martin Wrigley said it appeared: the process has led to a wrong decision from the MMO. He added: “As part of the lobbying, we should request that they suspend the licence pending the new sampling process we are requested. There is no expectation they will, but we should ask them to.”

Cllr Nina Jeffries added that all councillors heard from the local communities and businesses and fishermen who were affected by this, while Cllr Alan Connett, leader of the council, slammed the ‘air of arrogance’ from the government organisation that led to them having to consider a judicial review just to get some engagement from them.

The executive agreed to maintain their existing objection to the licence and to lobby for additional clarification of sampling methodology.

 

More from Local News

Listen Live
On Air Now Radio Exe - Non Stop Playing Unpretty Tlc