To Teignbridge District Council

To Whom It May Concern:

We, the undersigned residents of Teignbridge, wish to bring to the attention of Teignbridge District Council our many concerns regarding the state of Dawlish Brook.

We understand that TDC has responsibility for the maintenance of the Gardens in central Dawlish which includes the Dawlish Brook and the Manor Gardens.

We also understand that TDC has previously arranged for clearance of the Brook and its environs of the excess debris and vegetation that accumulates from time to time, for the following good and essential reasons:

1. To keep and retain the town as an attractive tourist destination.

2. To reduce flood risk from excess water that regularly overtops the banks of the Brook.

3. To reduce flood risk to the considerable number of properties near the Brook.

4. To reduce risk of harm to life and limb that presents in times of flood.

5. The Environment Agency classifies flood risk areas to parts of Dawlish town centre, a designated conservation area. A number of dwellings and commercial premises are already difficult or impossible to insure against flooding. Without proper clearance of the Brook more property is likely to be classified as being at risk.

6.  Should TDC know of any reason why they should NOT be held responsible, (by assigning their responsibility to the Environment Agency for example), let it be known and made public. Also to show this letter and petition to that agency so that it can act accordingly and attend to the Dawlish Brook as and when necessary.

7.  Within living memory at least one person has fallen into the Brook and perished.

Because TDC has failed to attend to the clearance of debris as mentioned above for at least ten years the present situation has become of serious concern to us all.

We therefore put TDC under notice that it has a responsibility for making safe the public spaces of Dawlish Town Centre, in particular the area of The Dawlish Brook.

We request that urgent steps are now taken to attend to the matter of clearance before someone is lost as a result of flooding and/or a number of properties become flooded. Should the matter not be attended to as a matter of urgency, the Dawlish residents and signatories to this notice will hold the members of TDC and their successors jointly and severally liable.