South West Water are renewing the Victorian combined sewer outfall connecting the untreated sewage system to the sea off Otter Head.

From a Correspondent:

“Unfortunately Kier aren’t able to undertake the sewer connection works due in Lime Kiln car park this week due to storm tank levels and the rainy weather forecast.” 

What does this tell us about Budleigh’s sewage system’s ability to cope with a spot of rain? There have been constant sewage alerts on most East Devon beaches for days.

Source: current Surfers against Sewage map

As a result they won’t be able to reduce the “land take” in Lime Kiln car park in time for the Easter weekend. 

About half the car park is currently used as a “hard hat” work site.

The Lime Kiln car park attracts visitors to the sea in all weather conditions over the weekends, especially as we enter Spring. 

“Apologies for the inconvenience because as you know, we were hoping to be able to free up some space in the car park over Easter. Unfortunately the weather has had other ideas and we can’t risk the storm tank overflowing.”

Apologies don’t really do it, do they?

Will SWW be fully compensating EDDC and the BS Town Council for the losses suffered?