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Tuesday 8 January 2019

Knowle relocation project: or, over-development straining the sewer system

Both local and national press have been quite taken by a rather large 'fatberg' under the Esplanade:
South West Water reveal Sidmouth has its own fatberg - but what is a fatberg? | Latest Sidmouth and Ottery News - Sidmouth Herald
Gigantic FATBERG longer than six double-decker buses found in Sidmouth sewer - Devon Live
Sixty-four-metre 'fatberg' discovered in English seaside resort | Environment | The Guardian
Fatberg the size of SIX London buses found under children's playground in Devon | UK | News | Express.co.uk
Monster fatberg found blocking Sidmouth sewer - BBC News

A cheeky comment from the East Devon Watch blog points out that there will be further strains when the retirement complex goes up at Knowle:

Owl wonders if this sort of thing will increase or decrease when the luxury PegasusLife elderly housing facility replaces EDDC’s Knowle HQ!

“Sixty-four-metre ‘fatberg’ discovered in English seaside resort” [Sidmouth] | East Devon Watch

But actually, there are serious issues about building more housing without building the right supporting infrastructure... 

This has been an issue at Knowle since at least 2014:
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: and '‘minimalist flood prevention measures’'
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: dealing with flood risk from over-development is 'not technically feasible'

Dealing with the issue has been postponed:
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: County Council to spend £0.75m against flood risk
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: developer's use of car park a ‘slap in the face’

Meanwhile, over-development and straining the sewer systems continues to be an issue in towns and villages across East Devon:
Futures Forum: Limits to development: Feniton and sewage
Futures Forum: Sidmouth and sewage

There is indeed such a thing as 'over-development':
Futures Forum: Limits to development: a return of the 'Sewerage Embargo'?
Futures Forum: Persimmon, Sidmouth and "promoting well-designed housing that is sustainable and provides much-needed new housing..."

Meanwhile, there are more sustainable solutions out there - and available for the South West:
Futures Forum: Reducing flooding through sustainable drainage systems >>> Water Sensitive Urban Design in the South-West
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