General Discussion

This has recently been posted on EoD.

"Well ,spring arriving,are we in for a summer of raw toilet waste running down Exeter road at Shutterton,we hope not!!!!".

A few days ago a resident of Shutterton Lane told me that a couple of months back the sewage exposure/overflow problem had become so bad that when cars went over the sewage it splashed up on to the garden walls of some bungalows fronting on to Secmaton Lane.

Nice weather a few days back (plus a dire need to start walking off winter gained excess poundage!) took me off for a stroll around the Secmaton area. I noticed that a couple of the dwellings along Secmaton Lane were displaying easily readable notices in their gardens so I ‘ad a read and what I read was the following.

That a meeting had taken place on 18th December 2014 concerning the sewage problems in Secmaton Lane. This meeting had been called by the Environment Agency and as well as the EA being present so too were representatives from South West Water, Cavanna and Bovis, local residents, TDC (in the form of an Environmental Health Officer) and 4 councillors (1x Devon County Council, 1x Teignbridge District and 2 x Dawlish Town Council). The notice doesn’t give the names of the councillors.

Issues raised at the meeting

1. Recent sewage flooding in a farm field in Secmaton Lane and also in Secmaton Rise:  South West Water is reviewing the photos from inside the new sewage pipe in the field. They will report to the Environment Agency by the end of Janaury 2015 as to what remedial actions are needed. Bovis and Cavanna have implemented better housekeeping on their joint site to which this pipe is connected.

2. Recent strong smells of sewage in Secmaton Lane:  South West Water recognise that this smell is a problem. They ask that people continue to report any such incidents along with wind direction and weather conditions at the time so the problem can be isolated.

3.Sewage leaks from manhole cover in Exeter Road resulting in sewage being sprayed onto traffic:  South West Water recognise that there have been many leaks over recent years. They are further investigating the recent events due to a metal spike found in the pipe. It was requested that a long term solution be found to this problem as it happens several times a year.

4. Concerns about the storm flaps in the culvert between Secmaton Lane and Exeter Road opposite ‘Orleans’ in Secmaton Lane:  There are new bridge culverts  built under Secmaton Lane and Exeter Road. Who is responsible for ensuring that the flaps are free to open and are kept clear of sediment and vegetation? (to avoid flooding).  The Environment Agency confirmed that they are responsible for clearing up the Brook from Dawlish Warren up half way up Exeter Road. The Environment Agency were asked to identify who is responsible for the Brook up to Secmaton Lane and upstream of the bridge.       

Hi Lynne, the councillors were Mary Lowther and myself as we are two of the councillors for that ward. At the meeting in December, one of the local residents attended on behalf of all residents and did an excellent job explaining exactly what the problems were and how they affected people's lives. He held SWW and the EA to account very well and is keeping a watching brief to ensure they do as they promised at the the meeting, but progress is very slow. 

See this week's Dawlish Gazette.

(If memory serves, people living in that area pointed out to the planners way back in 2008/9 that there would be problems with sewage disposal. And were they listened to? Seems not).  

And I've found this - letter from South West Water dated 2012 concerning the new housing development(s) and sewage disposal.

https://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=33350&p=0