Archived press release

Teigngrace - river diversion plan withdrawn

10 September 1998

A controversial scheme to divert two Dartmoor rivers has been withdrawn by ball clay [1] company Watts Blake Bearne (WBB) six weeks into a public inquiry in Exeter. WBB was forced to withdraw after it was revealed that it had badly miscalculated the threat of flooding[2]. If the proposed artificial channels had been built according to the flawed figures the first heavy rain could have resulted in widespread flooding both up and downstream.

Charlie Hopkins of Earthrights Solicitors, acting for the objectors to the scheme said:
“This is a great victory for determined local campaigning. Had it not been for the occupation of the site last summer and the support of the local community this scheme would have gone ahead unopposed. The proposal had been rubber stamped by Devon County Council and the Environment Agency - the only people opposed to the scheme at the time were the protestors and the villagers.If the scheme had gone ahead as planned there could have been disastrous consequences for the area in terms of increased flooding.”

Tony Juniper, Policy and Campaigns Director at Friends of the Earth said:
“Coming on the day that the Government announced new plans to protect our finest wildlife sites, this is good news indeed. Congratulations must go to the campaigners that took on WBB, and forced the Government to hold a public inquiry into this highly destructive proposal. This a fantastic victory for community campaigning, and demonstrates once again that developers that threaten the environment can be beaten. However, this whole episode underlines the need to give greater protection to sensitive wildlife sites. We shouldn't have to rely on effective campaigning to protect the best of the British countryside. The law should do that.”

WBB says that it plans to resubmit a revised application.

[1] Ball clay is a mineral used in the manufacture of items such as toilet basins.

[2] Evidence at the inquiry showed that WBB had miscalculated the amount of water in the rivers by a factor of between 2 and 4.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust