General Discussion
Crazy Golf
Early this morning the crazy golf course at Tuck’s Plot was being set up for the summer. Great to think this means summer is on its way. Would a hosepipe ban affect the town’s parks?
When in Teignmouth on Sunday just gone, it was noticeable that loads of people were enjoying the seafront Adventure Golf, next to the busy Childrens Play Area, thats just in front of the very popular skateboard and scooter ramps. Three things there that are exactly what the centre of Dawlish needs to encourage families to come into town. A small boating lake, as has previously been proposed, is simply not suitable or sustainable, in my opinion. Though that said, I suppose even that is infinitely more desirable than the widest pavement in the country.
Hosepipe ban. From my recollection of the article about this on yesterday's news this part of the country is not in line for hosepipe bans.
That said, and yes I do know it rains in the west more than in the east of this country and I do recognise that we have had some very, very wet summers over the recent 3 or 4 years, we might have hospipe bans yet as I'm pretty certain that even in this part of the country we haven't had as much rain during the winter as we are used to having.
A friend of mine went for a walk recently around one of the reservoirs over by Dartmoor and told me they'd never seen it so low.
So, would a hosepipe ban affect the town's parks? Yes, I guess it would. The grass would go brown. But then it's done that before and then recovers when it rains again.
I believe you are allowed to draw a certain amount of water per day from a natural source (e.g. stream) without permission. I can't remember how much it is but I think when I enquired previously it was something like the amount that would flow through a half-inch hosepipe. Above that amount permission is required from the Water Authority. There are a number of brooks which run into the sea along this part of the coast (from Dawlish to Bishopsteignton) - all ultimately from the Haldon Moor water catchment area. The water isn't being used so it would make eminent sense to be able to extract some of it for usage like watering the gardens/parks as long as that didn't detract from the amenity of the brooks.
Also, this area has had an average rainfall of about 100cm per year over the last 20 years. That's a lot of water. Most of that just runs away but if it could be captured off our roofs there would be ample for outdoor water needs, which in turn would reduce the amount we'd have to draw from the mains supply.
It all makes sense but needs some joined-up thinking!
Dare I mention that the first supermarket designed to meet the Passivhaus Standard, harvests rainwater to supply water for flushing the toilets?
He who dares wins. I bet that super market feels flushed with success. Do you know which one it was?
BBC local tv news programme "Spotlight" has a feature today concerning the prospect of a drought in the south west and the consequence increase in food prices (including basics like potatoes) should we continue with this lack of rainfall.
(and I appreciate the irony of this topic given the horrible misty weather that we've got today and that we have also had for the past few days).
Have now been told you can draw upto 20,000 l a day from a stream without permission - that should be more than enough for watering the lawn, gardens etc in Dawlish
Have now been told you can draw upto 20,000 l a day from a stream without permission - that should be more than enough for watering the lawn, gardens etc in Dawlish
OK so you can use water from the brook.
That leaves me with the question. Is the brook water suitable for the gardens?
(I assume that it is)