Dawlish News

A seaside town is to keep its famous black swans after agreeing an action plan to eradicate fears over water pollution.

Dawlish Town Council keeps 14 swans on the brook at Brunswick Place, as well as about 50 ornamental waterfowl which are not indigenous to Britain.

The swans, which are more commonly found in New Zealand and Australia, and the other birds have proved a lucrative tourist attraction and have become synonymous with the East Devon town.

Environment Agency tests had revealed a high presence of bacteria in water flowing from the wildfowl compound into the sea, which could come from the birds – although this was hotly disputed by the council.

Town councillors feared the popular breeding programme would be cancelled and the council required to carry out expensive work to deal with concerns about pollution.

The Environment Agency has now reassured the council the duck and swan enclosure will not require major improvement work provided certain conditions are met.

Coun Rosalind Prowse, chairman of the council's civic amenities committee, said the council was "extremely happy" with the outcome, especially as the breeding programme would continue.

Four cygnets had already hatched this year, she added.
Mrs Prowse, who said the pollution most likely came from wild birds and farmland run-off, said: "For many people, the swans are what makes Dawlish. That and eating an ice-cream with clotted cream."

Central to the action plan endorsed by the Environment Agency is South West Water agreeing to separate out and treat sewage and dirty water. The agency will also require all clean roof water be kept separate from contamination from the wildfowl enclosure.

One of the more expensive options would have involved connecting the pond to the nearest foul drain, which could have cost the council about £30,000 that it could ill afford.

Mrs Prowse went on: "We are extremely happy and thankful that we have been able to work together on this with the Environment Agency and South West Water.

Richard Tugwell of the Environment Agency, said: "We will continue to monitor the discharge from the site to ensure there is no significant adverse impact on either the Dawlish Water or the quality of the nearby bathing beach."