Torquay sewer-collapse threat forces raw waste into sea

[sailorman]

Raw sewage is having to be pumped into the sea at a Devon holiday resort in a bid to stop a main sewer collapsing.

A breach in the sea wall at Livermead in Torquay caused part of the road to collapse and undermining the sewer.

South West Water (SWW) has had to divert flows away from the sewer as a result, forcing it to pump the raw waste it into the sea at Hope's Nose.

People have been been warned not to swim at Beacon Cove, Torre Abbey and Hollacombe.

SWW said the breach in the sea wall had exposed the rising mains which had been seriously undermined by sea water.
There is an increased risk of pollution at Shoalstone, Broadsands, Goodrington, Paignton Sands, Preston Sands, Meadfoot, Anstey's, Babbacombe, Oddicombe, Watcombe and Maidencombe, the firm said.

Mr Sanders has written to Torbay Council asking why the repairs to the sea wall planned for February were delayed and why the public had not been told about the sewage at Hope's Nose.

But Torbay Mayor Gordon Oliver insisted everything possible has been done.

"We got stuck in to containing the breach and we've had people here day and night battling with the elements to do that... and we're back in control of the situation," he told BBC News



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-22021993

 

[[70521]]

It's still a bit chilly to go swimming at the moment.

Sounds a very practical thing to do in the short term, I'd rather this happen than it backing up into peoples houses.

 

[longjohnsilver]

They've been pumping sewage in at Hopes Nose for years, so nothing new. And they had some pillock from the local council on the radio today blaming Easterly winds for the problem, saying we've had 2 months of continuous Easterlies (almost true) as opposed to an average of 6 days a year which is total bollox.

 

[alant]

It's still a bit chilly to go swimming at the moment.
Sounds a very practical thing to do in the short term, I'd rather this happen than it backing up into peoples houses.

Exactly!

Worry about it in July!

 

[Chris_Robb]

They've been pumping sewage in at Hopes Nose for years, so nothing new. And they had some pillock from the local council on the radio today blaming Easterly winds for the problem, saying we've had 2 months of continuous Easterlies (almost true) as opposed to an average of 6 days a year which is total bollox.

We were at Teignmouth at the weekend, Its is amazing how the whole shoreline has changed following the lengthy easterly winds. I am sure thay are contributory, but only due in reality to poor maintenance and planning.