RE: PROPOSED Bin­hamy Farm development in Bude. Within living memory we, the residents of Bude, lived under the umbrella of a sewage embargo. This embargo stopped new development because there was no sewage works other than a manually operated gate valve beneath the Headland, which, when opened, permitted raw sewage to flow into the sea. If the operator judged the tide and weather to be propitious he allowed the raw sewage to flow. If he got it wrong, brown stuff appeared on all our local beaches.

The 'new' sewage works alleviated this, to a large extent, but when overloaded it allows sewage into the sea whatever conditions prevail. The result is that, from time to time, we continue to suffer brown material and a great deal of yellowish foam on our local beaches. Dog walkers, like myself, endeavour to warn unsuspecting tourists with children in the sea when this occurs.

I strongly fear that the overload condition will occur more frequently, if not continuously, when further new development takes place — unless the sewage works is very considerably enlarged. I look forward to the usual comforting platitudes from the council on this point.

Bridgerule,