It’s distressing to hear about pollution in our rivers, the landfill debris affecting our beaches and concerns about harbour dredging. But despite the scale of the problems we’ve got some good progress to report.
Green Councillors Belinda Bawden (Lyme & Charmouth, Dorset Council, and Lyme Town Council) and Rob Smith (Lyme Town Council) have been in regular partnership meetings with South West Water, the town council, Dorset Council, Environment Agency and the River Lim Action Group to resolve sewage problems. Belinda is one of the River Lim water quality and river fly monitors.
At the request of Cllr Bawden, Dorset Council agreed to carry out testing of the harbour dredging in Lyme Regis. Local residents had been concerned about contamination of the sandy beach. The tests for heavy metals and hydrocarbons showed there was minimal risk. Belinda thanked Dorset Council for excellent co-operation with residents and the town council, for undertaking the sediment tests and for prioritising Lyme’s harbour dredging earlier in the year. Belinda is one of the River Lim water quality and river fly monitors.
Cllr Bawden has asked Dorset Council for regular monitoring, clean-ups where necessary and better signage in Charmouth and Lyme to warn beach visitors of the hazards.
In other related developments:
- Thanks to the efforts of the ‘Citizen Science’ volunteers of River Lim Action with the backing of the town council, South West Water will apply to the water regulator, Ofwat, this autumn to bring forward a £20 million investment programme in Lyme Regis. This should reduce sewage spills and clean up the Lim.
- In Charmouth, Wessex Water is also fast-tracking work at Newlands Bridge. Previously scheduled for 2025-30, the work to eliminate all spills at the sewage overflow is due to begin later this summer.