Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
22 September 2009
15:4329249I see a report out today by the Environment Agency has said that three quarters of our rivers in England and Wales are of poor standard and fail to meet the new standard as set by the European Union. I think only a handful got a good report although the Environment Agency have spoken about the improvement in the quality of the water in some of these rivers which has seen a rise in wildlife content. Salmon have returned in some previously badly polluted rivers and otters have returned to some.
Im not sure how our little Dour would feature in such a report, although I see that near neighbour The Stour has been classified according to a map on the BBC as pretty bad. There is some wildlife in and along the Dour, various birdlife with the occasional star turn being the sometimes seen heron, so maybe thats an encouraging note but hard to say for sure whether we are in fact making progress.
I will look further to see if I can find anything on the Dour.
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
1 October 2009
20:5229622Altogether now.
SIIIILENCE IS GOLDEN GOLDEN.
A huge respone there Boss boss man.
I don't think this subject is at the front of anyones mind, least of all mine.
Just thought I would reply to make you happy.
Ian...
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
1 October 2009
22:1229628funny you should say that ian.
only this morning i walked past the nick, riverside centre and the college and surveyed the beer cans, crisp packets and weeds.
someone told me that there was a bit of river in there somewhere.
the situation gets worse despite efforts from volunteers, lucky we have the environment agency to talk down to us.
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
1 October 2009
22:3429630In all honesty Howard, How can anyone say they walked along the river and thought it was clean.
If they do, they must have been walking along with their eyes closed.
After the last clean up the cans where going in 1hr later at the local hot spot.
So sad, no interest, not bothered.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
1 October 2009
22:5229632Rivers appear to be like social guages.The shittier the Rivers the worse our society appears to be. A proper ,caring society would treasure its natural resources.Basically the Dour reflects the attitude that prevails at present in Dover.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
1 October 2009
23:4729634Anyone truly concerned about the rubbish in the river with time on their hands on Tues 27th October are more than welcome to join in the next WCCP Dour clean. Meet at 10:15 B&Q car park. It's the last clean until next spring.
2 October 2009
07:0729636Phil, what would we need to bring if able to come (it's a work day!!)?
Guest 667- Registered: 6 Apr 2008
- Posts: 919
2 October 2009
07:2529639Try to come to River and look at the river by the Mill, where it nearly always looks a picture. There is plenty of wild life on the river and around the pond. There are of course ducks, swans etc but look further and there is the egret, kingfisher, swallow and many other birds.
You can see fish, mainly trout and we do try our best to stop them being fished to allow them to breed. Also try taking a glass, dipping it in the river, lifting it up and looking at it and you will see the water is as clear as tap water.
Why do I brag about it, well because it is kept that way by regular volunteers and they have a go at anyone they see trying to spoil it. The river only gets worse further down because of mindless idiots who have no respect for themselves let alone nature.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
2 October 2009
08:1629645i notised last night the river at pencester was full of rubbish near the road bridge.looked absolutely disgusting.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
2 October 2009
08:1629646Gosh Ian I had long since given up hope of any response to this one and then lo and behold it was resuirrected from the dead..a comeback Lazarus would have been proud of. You see, you can never write anything off. I saw a letter in one of the papers this week about this very topic, about the Stour in fact.
It looks, despite all the promises, that the rivers appear to be getting worse. We have a bit of spin of the 'salmon in the Thames' variety but it doesnt seem to permeate out to the smaller rivers.
Nice to hear that positve news there Harry. The river is indeed nice up there at The Mill and sometimes nice in that little stretch along Pencester Gardens..the rest of the places in between are a struggle. Well done to Phil there and his volunteers who try their best. I went up to see them one time. Didnt do anything physical but took a photo or two and wrote a bit, the photos are still somewhere in my system.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
2 October 2009
08:2329648There is a River Dour Steering Group meeting on 7th. of October, to which I have been invited.
It has always been accused of being just a talking shop and no action taken, so it will be interesting to see how it goes.
My own view is that there should be a permanent camera along the river hot-spots, as a permanent one is manned and operated, a temporary one is just positioned for a particular view.
The river through Dover is not a rural river going through countryside, but through an urban area and envirionment and as such, it's bio-diversity and aesthetics should be considered in equal balance.
I understood that the water is clean through Dover, it's the crap that's thrown in it that's the problem.
The broken window syndrome should be applied here, that's why a river warden should be employed - and given the power and authority to issue fines, which I'm sure, given the illegalities of what goes on there, would raise enough money to pay his salary.
Roger
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
2 October 2009
09:0529651Bern - you don't need to bring anything. All equipment, i.e. sticks, waders, gloves etc are provided. You can do as long as you like. We are all volunters so it's up to you! It'd be nice to finally meet you.
Roger - what time and where is the Dour meeting please?
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
2 October 2009
09:3629652Phil
I have Dover Town Hall on the 7th. at 2pm.
Roger
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
2 October 2009
11:1929661I collected a friends daughter from school on monday and drove through River along the river by the Mill. It was so beautiful and we paused to look at the swans, the river was so clean and such a joy to see. We arrived in Dover Town, got some fish and chips and I suggested walking back to the car via the river in Pencester gardens. What a mistake, it was absolutely disgusting. The amount of rubbish was unbelievable from cans, bottles, paper, empty take-away boxes and even dirty disposable nappies. My young friend and I felt physically sick. what an awful shame, a lovely sunny afternoon walking through the park and to see the river in this state was, well, simply shocking
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
2 October 2009
16:3429673That's awful Colette, how do we stop people feeling it is O.K. to throw rubbish in the river ?
Is it lack of rubbish bins ?
Is it lack of pride ?
What can possess people to do this ?
A river warden might help ?
Roger
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
2 October 2009
16:3629675maybe our sue nicolls could get the rubbish bins put back.?
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
2 October 2009
16:5529678I very much doubt if there is any money in the pot at DDC to pay for CCTV or a warden, I've asked before at source so don't expect anything to move on those forseeably. Extra bins really are needed, but don't hold your breath.
It is depressing to think we had a very heavy day clearing out the river last Friday (25th) from 10:30 to 16:30 and already it's business as usual. Still, any rubbish taken out is rubbish taken out.
It is also true that not all rubbish in the Dour is dumped. The Dour lying at the bottom of the valley will tend to collect loose rubbish blowing downhill, this of course doesn't mean it shouldn't have been dumped in the first place.
I'd like to go along to the RDSG meeting to find out what they actually do and who they are. They have no website and if they are up to anything it's impossible to find out unless one is on the 'inside'.
Ultimately rubbish is rubbish. Rubbish doesn't care about individual or group politics and agendas. I've noticed over the years that some of the most vocal critics of the state of the Dour and river management don't lift a finger to help get the rubbish out, and that's a shame! Cosy meetings with concerned expressions, note taking and chocolate hobnobs is no substitute for a pair of waders and a rubbish sack.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
2 October 2009
17:0829682Dead right Phil.
I'm surprised that the River Dour Steering Group is not known to White Cliffs Countryside Project, especially as you clear out the Dour on a regular basis.
Can't you come along anyway ? I was invited by the EA, could you not be my personal guest ?
Roger
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
2 October 2009
19:3729699I too was invited by Tom Read at the meeting we had along the river Roger.
I told him I had attended many of them and got fed up of all hot air that was spouted across the table.
He said I would be invaluable to the group.
yeh right.
Short and sweet, all talk and no action, we must talk to this or that body and we must find out who does this and that.
You come out of the meetings wondering what it was all about.
The RDSG are known to the WCCP, It was the RDSG that got the WCCP to take all of the River Watch kit away, free of charge.
Hence no more River Watch as we where not an official body.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
2 October 2009
21:1229702Thanks Roger. I'll be there.
Please don't forget I'm only an unpaid WCCP volunteer and am not mixed up in the politics and am not a spokesperson in any way. I'm just very curious as to how the whole Dour thing functions but have no agenda whatsoever. Ian has clued me up on a lot in the past- thanks Ian!