letter form Councillor Sheryll Murray to DEFRA 1 March 05
 

Dear Mr Dixon,

RE : Issue of Consent for continued use of site PLO31 Rame Head South for the dumping of dredged material

 I am writing to express my grave concern regarding the continued use of this site for the disposal of material dredged from Plymouth Sound and the River Tamar.

 I  have just seen some video footage of the area of Whitsand Bay  within 100 yards from the shore off Polhawn Cove and must protest in the strongest manner at the damage that is highlighted in this footage to the sea bed, fish stocks, kelp beds and at  the disgraceful “man made litter” that is now abundant on the sea bed. 

This litter is of a commercial nature and can only be there as a result of the dredging of commercial waste that has taken place over the past 5 years from the River Tamar in the area of adjacent to HM Dockyard in order to accommodate the now abandoned RAFT project.

 Admiralty torches, aluminium offcuts, old gas masks, commercial rubber and cable litter the sea bed just off the shore where families swim, tourists are abundant in the summer months and anglers fish from the rocks and the shore. Not to mention the divers who are attracted to the area in ever increasing numbers as a direct result of the sinking of Europe’s first artificial reef in the form of HMS Scylla.

The video evidence also illustrated clearly that fish stocks are depleted and those left are suffocating under the disgraceful slurry that now covers the sea bed, not only in the defined dumping area but within 100 yards of the shore. 

Shellfish such as lobsters are clearly sick and the natural kelp beds are in a disastrous state. The whole area is being destroyed.

 My constituents are extremely concerned particularly as the Bay was highlighted recently in a Which Report saying what a wonderful place it was to visit. and I would bring to your attention that the UK has signed up to the OSPAR convention. I understand that the site is still used (due to the exemption under annex 2 of that convention) but your original Consent was issued for dredged silt and any “man made waste” such as the commercial waste shown in the video is being dumped in the area in direct contravention to the consent.

 As this evidence has been made available to your department I am very concerned that a further consent has been issued.

 This area should not be used for further dumping in the interests of the Marine Environment, the public safety and the economy of the area around Rame which is very reliant on an economically healthy Tourist Industry. 

Our beautiful Bay is being destroyed by what can only be perceived to be a “lack of understanding and sympathy for the Marine Environment” on the part of the Ministry and the Secretary of State in charge Mr Elliott Morley MP.

 I am therefore writing to invite you to visit the people of Rame at your earliest convenience in order that you can hear the views of ALL the local people for yourself and see the video evidence.

 I will be happy to arrange for a Public Meeting where you will be given a fair opportunity to present your evidence and also see the evidence that we have in order to make a fair judgment upon the consent that has been issued. I am sure you will meet our demands to revoke the consent immediately once you have seen the evidence for yourself and heard he views of almost every person resident in the locality.

 I must also express my grave concern about the perceived lack of consultation prior to the renewal of the consent. I am sure consultation  was engaged and would ask if you could inform me as to who was consulted and provide details of any advertisements which appeared in the press.

 I look forward to hearing from you in the very near future concerning an available date when you will be able to come and speak to my local constituents as I am sure you would not wish them to consider that their concerns are being totally ignored.