The last Estuary Strategy document was published by Torridge District Council in 2014 and is described as ‘lapsed’ due to significant changes that have happened since then: two changes of ownership of Appledore Shipyard, the development of the Clean Maritime Innovation Centre and a new Economic Strategy. Seaweed farming started in Bideford Bay, there are plans for floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea, and of course the designation of Bideford and the River Torridge as a Heritage Harbour. Now the strategy is having a long overdue refresh. 

There is not just one body that has overall responsibility for the estuary, and future planning has to take into account a wide range of statutory and interest groups. A fundamental question is how to balance the requirements of commercial interests and employment – shipbuilding, freight, and commercial fishing – with the leisure interests of sailors, rowers, anglers and wild swimmers. All this within the only DEFRA Biosphere in UK that covers the terrestrial and maritime environments, containing important scientific sites that attract scientists, naturalists and birdwatchers. And that’s without even mentioning the big topical issue of water quality or the local folk and visitors enjoying cycling on the Tarka Trail and walking the South West Coast Path or developing the Heritage Tourism that results in part from our status as a Heritage Harbour. The way we use our quays and our access to the water is something people care passionately about, as evidenced by the massive response Torridge had to their recent consultation – over 450 people, almost all local, bothered to send in a response. 

Trying to sum this up, Sean Kearney, Head of Communities and Place at Torridge, said ‘the strategy will provide a clear route to energise our economy, improve wellbeing and to provide guardianship for the diverse estuarine wildlife, whilst strengthening the appeal for investment, innovation and to ensure that the estuary is truly a great place to live, work and visit.’

However, Government proposals for reorganisation of Local Government mean that Torridge District Council will likely cease to exist in a couple of years and we don’t yet know whose job it will then be to implement the strategy. Laying out clearly the vision for how we would like our estuary to be in future is therefore vitally important as it will be the road map for a future administration to take forward.