The Friends of the River Teign held their launch event on October 13 on Shaldon Beach, alongside the River Teign.
The event was attended by Newton Abbot MP, Martin Wrigley, (Lib Dem) who carried out a water quality test, one of a series to be carried out through the winter by the group. The event was attended by around 80 supporters from along the River Teign and other speakers highlighted the importance of a clean river to wildlife and the communities along the river.
After carrying out the test, Martin Wrigley MP urged the Environment Agency to continue water quality testing during the winter months. Official water quality testing ended in mid-September at Shaldon and Teignmouth beaches, but many swimmers continue to use beaches and rivers throughout the winter months.
The MP said that he planned to meet with South West Water and called upon them to
“accelerate their plans for more investment to tackle pollution from storm overflows.”
He added,
“I very much welcome the formation of the Friends of the River Teign. It is very encouraging that local people are advocating for the river.”
A range of other speakers covered topics as diverse as the levels of phosphates in the Upper Teign, its unique birdlife and the legal rights that bind communities to the river.
Stuart Reynolds, one of the founders of the group, said,
“The Teign is one of the last major rivers in Devon to have a Friends group and our first public event was a milestone for us. We are very pleased that so many people support the aims of the group to campaign together for water health, biodiversity, and thriving community life”.
The Friends of the River Teign exist to give voice to the river and to campaign together for its water health, biodiversity, and thriving community life in the face of modern-day challenges.
The group’s scope includes:
- the non-tidal river Teign and its catchment
- the title estuary of the Teign
- the adjacent beaches/seas of Labrador Bay from Dawlish Warren to Anstey’s Cove
