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From: "SchNEWS" (schnews@mail.gn.apc.org)
Subject: SchNEWS 181, 28 August 1998
Reply-to: schnews@brighton.co.uk

Rivers Bovey and Teign (Devon)

Activists have dealt a blow to Belgian-owned Watts BlakeBearne's plans to divert the rivers Bovey and Teign, to enable them to extract ball clay for making toilets (see SchNEWS 126). A public inquiry inspector told WBB to "consider withdrawing your application" after it emerged that the quarry company was ready to build a mile long stretch of river two-thirds the size it should have been. This glaring error would have led to the rivers 'unzipping' after the first flood, risking flooding to homes as far afield as Newton Abbot. Apparently WBB's erm... experts have been 111% out on their flow rates since 1986 and are now responsible for a catalogue of botched river diversions around the world.

Derr...Fick!! Mike Clarke of Teigngrace Village Forum said: "If it had not been for the protestors entering the site last year, construction would be under way and we would be waiting for heaven knows what to happen". The inquiry resumes Sep 29.

Latest - Dave: 01626 363844


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