Painting the town yellow in Teignmouth
27 May 2014 11:27 AM
Today they will launch an
educational campaign designed by the Environment Agency called ‘Yellow
Fish’.
The campaign involves painting
yellow fish next to the drains that connect to the surface water pipes that
lead to the estuary or the sea. By marking the drains, and explaining where
surface water ends up, it will show business owners and the public how
pollution travels direct to the sea.
The Agency hopes that this will
help to keep the local beach cleaner.
The team will locate the road
drains around the town and paint yellow fish on the drain covers or kerb
stones. They will also ask businesses in the community to pledge not to pour
anything down the road drain and it is hoped they will display a yellow fish
poster to show that they support the campaign.
Nick Smart for the Environment
Agency said:
It has been great having the
opportunity to work with local people, who also use and enjoy the local bathing
beaches. By delivering this campaign we hope to show everyone the link between
preventing pollution in the town and protecting our bathing
waters.
Cllr Kevin Lake, Executive
Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services at Teignbridge District Council
said:
The campaign will hopefully
encourage people to stop pouring fat and other pollutants into the drain system
and this will help to improve bathing water quality in the town. It will also
show local business owners and people living in the town that some of the
drains on the street lead direct to Teignmouth’s bathing
waters.
Other things people can do to
help their bathing water are:
• Pick up your dog mess
from the beach, and also the roads and pavements where it can get into the
drains • Put food waste securely in the bin to discourage scavenging birds
from the beach and town area. • Dispose of all wastes sensibly. •
Place waste sanitary products in the bin not down the loo where they can cause
blockages and sewage flooding. • Check that your drains are connected
properly.
Ends
Note to editors
Further information:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/avoiding-pollution-yellow-fish-scheme
http://www.connectright.org.uk/
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Check Bathing water quality:
https://www.gov.uk/quality-of-local-bathing-water
Follow us on Twitter:
@EnvAgencySW #swbathingwater