Recent News
Quay kitesurfer saves two children on seafront
A Clipper Wharf man has been praised for his swift action in rescuing two children who got into difficulties while playing in the water at Exmouth. Kitesurfer Simon Perks (above and pictured in action) said it was late afternoon when he noticed a boy of about 10 and a slightly older girl in an agitated state after being swept away from a seafront bathing area by a strong incoming tide. “At first I thought they were shouting at each other, but then I realised they were out of their depth and couldn’t swim and were screaming for help”. He dropped his board to the beach, let the power out of the kite and, allowing for the strong tide, made his way upwind to the terrified children. He told them to hold on to his shoulders and used the power of the wind in the kite to gently drag the three of them back to shore. “The children’s parents were at the other end of the beach, but several people came over to make sure we were ok,” said Simon, who has been kitesurfing for six years. He immediately informed the Coastguard, but they were unaware of the drama as the incident had been over in a few minutes. Eric Bridge, who is a leading kitesurfing instructor and runs the Edge watersports business with his wife Steph, praised Simon. “He’s a great guy and passionate about his kitesurfing,” said Eric. “And it’s fantastic that he was able to spot the children in trouble and body drag out to assist them. It is also in the nature of the sport that everyone helps each other and this kind of action doesn’t surprise me.” Simon, who is aged 54 and married to Elaine, took over the Clipper Wharf property a year ago.
Warning on build up of Marina silt (April, 2009)
There is continued concern at the silting up of Exmouth Marina and Residents’ Association official Roy Pickering has had further discussions with Natural England (formerly English Nature). He told the organisation’s Maritime Officer Melanie Parker: “Some members have mooring berths and at low tides it has become increasingly difficult to navigate around the docks.” He said residents understood Natural England was opposed to dredging and asked for clarification. Melanie said the Exe estuary was designated as a site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Ramsar site. Additionally, she said it was a Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA) listed under the Birds Directive, which afforded it additional protection under European law. “I can assure you that Natural England take any proposals or activities which might impact upon the special interest of this site very seriously.” She pointed out that although the Exmouth Marina was situated outside the SPA and SSSI designations, a dredging operation might have an impact on the sites and the harbour authority would require the consent of Natural England before work could commence. Natural England’s main concerns would be that the disturbance of the sediment might mobilise contaminants or increase turbidity in the designated area. Harbourmaster Keith Graham told Quay News a dredging licence was needed before the silt could be lifted and moved to a designated dumping area. He said three years ago, as part of the licence process, samples had been taken from various parts of the Marina and sent for lab tests. The results were fine, but the operation was postponed because of the cost, thought to have been around £300,000.
Divers remove piles at docks entrance (September 2008)Divers, using Simon Turl’s mooring services boat as a platform, remove one of two tubular steel piles from the approaches to the docks entrance. “The divers, from a Plymouth salvage firm, used thermal lances and cut round flush with the sea bed,” said Simon. The piles were inserted for Exmouth Marina company when contractors installed others to mark the position of the old wooden jetty. 
East Devon Council originally told Exmouth Marina that retrospective planning approval was needed, but it is understood Crown Agents intervened and said it was Crown land and permanent structures were not allowed without permission. They told EDDC to have the piles removed and the Council was in the process of bringing legal action against Exmouth Marina when the divers did the work. Residents had campaigned for their removal. Have you claimed your water rebate?
Several Quay residents have succeeded in reducing their water charges and have received a one-year rebate. As South West Water will not deal with the issue collectively, the attached template may be helpful for individual owners: To South West Water, PO Box 4, Exeter EX2 7HS (quoting customer ref number): “I understand from other property owners here on the Exmouth Quay that South West Water may be charging me for a service we may not have, namely a connection to a public service water drainage sewer. I also understand that surface rainwater runs directly into the River Exe and is not passed through your sewer system at all. Kindly check your records and, if appropriate, adjust sewer charges against my property.”
When Clampers switch to tickets (July, 2008)
Armtrac, the Exeter-based company that patrols the Quay to check on indiscriminate parking, has explained why it sometimes operates with tickets rather than clamps. The Management Company was asked by the Residents’ Association to clarify Armtrac’s current procedures and to explain its relationship with the company. A spokesman said: “Armtrac have been engaged to monitor the public areas at the Quay and two specific parking courts (Pilot Wharf and Madison Wharf) to ensure that residents are able to park in their spaces. They are not paid to patrol by the Management Company, or the developers, Eagle One, and the issuing of tickets and clamps covers the cost of the operation.” The spokesman added: “They operate a system of tickets as opposed to clamps in some instances so as to patrol further and more frequently the areas they look after. In the past, as soon as a clamp was placed on the vehicle, the patrolman had to wait for the owner to return and be in the vicinity to release the clamp. This meant they had limited time to travel to other locations and monitor parking.” He said that when tickets were issued, the patrolman was free to carry on patrolling both the Quay and other sites. He said this seemed to be working, but there were likely to be limits on how quickly the patrolman could attend the site in any particular circumstances where a vehicle might have been parked in a restricted area. The spokesman added: “Unfortunately, it is not possible either for people like us, or local authorities, to issue tickets or clamps to every offending vehicle, but if those vehicles are in private spaces then I think that point needs to be made by the person who calls Armtrac. They are keen to offer a good service and I am sure that more people will be aware that the system has changed slightly in that parking in restricted areas will likely result in a ticket or clamp. The clamping industry has been tightened up by the Government and Armtrac have the relevant licences to operate clamping, but they will always use their discretion at Exmouth Quay (as best they can).”
Devastation as the seagulls swoop (July, 2008).
Black bags of household rubbish left on the pavements overnight by Quay house guests and visitors continue to be ripped open by seagulls and the contents scattered. The Quay’s refuse collections were recently switched from Mondays to Thursdays and house owners have been urged by the Residents’ Association to inform weekend guests of the change. Recycling boxes are also now collected on Thursdays, every fortnight. East Devon Council has long-term plans to issue two wheelie bins to each house in Exmouth, one for recycling and one for household.
Swashway will not solve Lifeboat problems (April, 2008)
Mariners’ traditional approach to Exmouth, the Exe Fairway, will be closed this summer and replaced by the alternative Swashway Channel. The current issue of the Exmouth Lifeboat Station Appeal magazine exe-change reports that approval has been obtained from Trinity House to buoy the Swashway with a Safe Water Mark to the south of Pole Sands, and a preferred channel mark in the vicinity of the existing Number 8 buoy’s position. However, the Swashway will not solve the current problems of Exmouth’s all-weather lifeboat. Simon Pryce, the RNLI Divisional Inspector, says: “The Swashway is not a set channel and the fact is that one big storm could shift it again. It is dangerously exposed in any south, south west or south easterly gale and there are no guarantees that it will remain a permanent feature that can be relied on. We need to plan for all eventualities and our new boathouse at Maer Rocks will mean we can launch whatever happens to the channels and the sands near Exmouth.”