THE recently formed group TATAS (Trevalga and Trethevy Against Sewage) are stepping up their campaign against South West Water's plans to install a joint sewage treatment works at either Black Barn, Trevalga, or Fenterleigh at South Bossiney.

Chairman of the group, Clive Baylay, said it was very important that residents were made aware of the plans and what implications they would have on the countryside in the area.

South West Water held a public meeting at Trevalga Village Hall on July 22, to show some photomontages and ask the public for their opinion.

At the end of the meeting, there was a show of hands and residents voted unanimously against the plans for a joint scheme.

Mr Baylay explained that the TATAS group were against the plans for a number of reasons, including an increased amount of C02 emissions and the need for kilometres of pipework to be laid.

This would cause major disruption to Boscastle, shortly after the village has got back on its feet following the completion of the flood defence scheme.

If South West Water were to offer two separate schemes, there would be two outfalls, instead of the one near Bossiney Cove.

A lot of people swim and scuba dive off the coast, but Mr Baylay added: "We fully appreciate to be pumping raw sewage into the sea is wrong."

Sharon Baylay, TATAS secretary, added: "The committee now want smaller separate treatment works sited within the boundaries of both parishes."

Residents of the two communities at Trevalga and Trethevy are also concerned about the possible problems with smell, light pollution and a constant background hum.

Mrs Baylay said: "It's always so quiet and to have a hum would be terrible. I won't be able to sleep through it."

The distance between the site and the nearest dwelling has also caused concern, with the nearest home being some 140 metres away. South West Water's guidelines state dwellings should be no less than 150 metres away.

Although it seemed that many people were unaware of South West Water's plans at the start, more and more have given their support to the TATAS campaign.

Mr Baylay said: "When we started the TATAS group we felt very alone but since then the Forrabury and Minster Parish Council have formed a sub committee to deal with this, the Boscastle Advisory Group, and they are largely in favour of two separate sites. The same goes for Tintagel. They are 100 per cent in favour, but South West Water have put the blinkers on a joint scheme."

The applications have been submitted — one for each site (Trevalga reference 08/00476/WAS and South Bossiney 08/00480/WAS) — and Mr and Mrs Baylay urged residents of Boscastle, Tintagel and the surrounding areas and also visitors to the area to look closely at the applications and make write to North Cornwall District Council with their comments.

'WEAPON'

Mr Baylay said: "I think the biggest weapon in our armoury is that planning policy clearly states that such installations shall be sited as close as possible to the communities that they serve and not intruding into the open countryside."

TATAS also plan to write to NCDC, lobby individual members of the planning committee and get in touch with Dan Rogerson, North Cornwall MP.

"We're just trying to make people aware locally of what's happening so they can object if they wish," added Mrs Baylay.