Turning of tide for Combe Martin?

Tony Gussin Monday, December 24, 2012
3:18 PM

Residents jubilant after beach passes bathing water tests.

SEASIDERS in Combe Martin are celebrating the turning of the tide after the beach passed stringent new European bathing water tests.

Residents had campaigned hard for improvement after the water failed Environment Agency tests last year and many feared it could hit the local economy by damaging the tourist trade.

A series of meetings with North Devon MP Nick Harvey, South West Water, The Environment agency, Sir Graham Watson MEP and Dennis Osborne of the Consumer Council for Water have led to a various measures being implemented.

In January South West Water is spending £94,000 on repairing ageing sewer pipes in the village. Plus the Environment Agency and South West Water have agreed a further £800,000 to expand capacity of sewer overflows to meet the new guidelines, subject to approval by the secretary of state.