Raw sewage into Belle Greve is ‘part of plan’
Tuesday 2nd June 2009, 2:29PM BST.
Project manager at Belle Greve pumping station John Marley with the new sewage pipe, which will be installed later this week. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0782976)
RAW sewage is being discharged from the short outfall pipe, just yards from the shoreline, at Belle Greve Bay.
And it will remain that way for the rest of the week, according to the project manager at Belle Greve pumping station.
John Marley said the sewage had been discharged from the pipe near the Red Lion from 9am yesterday, because of construction work currently being undertaken at the pumping station.
‘We’re planning to be back online by Saturday and we’ve made a good start on it,’ said Mr Marley.
As part of the nearly 40-year-old main pumping station’s refurbishment the main pipe had been switched off to allow engineers to fit a surge compression tower, which will extend the life of the pipe.
The new part will prevent a vacuum forming when sewage is pumped out and prevent structural damage to the main pipe. Mr Marley said the existing long outfall pipe was likely to fail in the future if the tower were not fitted.
‘It’s all part of the main pumping station upgrade,’ he said.
The auxiliary pumping station is currently pumping all the island’s raw sewage out via two pumps.
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Ah well,the ormers from that area should be fat and tasty this year,not to mention the juicy mullett that are having a bean(?) feast!
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As usual, theres the normal lack of information at the beach – a lone ‘Possible risk of pollution’ sign is left on the slipway to warn people.
That is the understatement of 2009.
Why not have a proper information board saying what is happening and when?
Just shows a disregard for people’s safety. Its raw sewage for gods sake!
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Pleinmont:
They don’t care; to them you are just a busy body;
They don’t care if children become ill; they just say there are other beaches:
Well this article should bge sent to Sky-news; they’ll plaster it all over Europe and further to Fox news.
What kind of animals have we governing our Island; to say it’s a disgrace is under statement; this must stop at once:
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Has the HEALTH Dept given up, or like so many other civil-departments; been over ruled by these amateur politicians
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Thats just not right, in this day and age, you still do this you should be accountable in some way for doing this, and then to publish a picture with a guy sitting in a pipe that will take more poo out to see is showing contempt. get into the 21st century
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How b****y disgusting in this day and age. What an eco example to the world?????????????
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“RAW sewage is being discharged from the short outfall pipe, just yards from the shoreline, at Belle Greve Bay”
“The auxiliary pumping station is currently pumping all the island’s raw sewage out via two pumps.”
Where is the other outfall pipe?!?! at the beginning of the article they have only metioned the one pipe in belle greve yet the end mentions 2 pumps? what is going on!
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Planned my left >>insert here<<. If it was ‘planned’ why did not PSD show the public the courtesy and tell them before the public found out?
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Raw sewage has always come back into that bay, I remember as a young aprentice in the early 70s going down the beach in my dinner hour and seeing raw sewage washed up. nothing’s changed there.
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Is this island wealthy or not? If it is, why oh why are we still doing this in the 21st century!?!
We are told we should have respect for the Bailiff, Lt Gov., Chief Minister etc. But what do they do to change crucial things like this? They don’t want what’s best for the island, just what’s best for them.
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I bet a tinker’s cuss-that if the Belle Greve area had been allowed to go through; within weeks, not months not years. in fact within hours. Plans had come in for a proper sewage plant.
But the States in their infinite thoughts for the peoples needs, turns a blind eye-and the other eye cannot see further than their nose.
It is a disgrace in this age of science that this medieval means of sewage disposal is allowed to go on.
If the CM is so clever as people think and can stop a strike by fire-fighters, then let him turn his- Ha ha (Knowledge) and help those who need help most; they are the children who are subjected to adults folly. Trott do something useful, instead of acting like the one who praised his own reflection in the lake.
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Over the last few weeks I am truely astonished at what is happening in Guernsey – this latest story really doesnt surprise me!!
Are we part of a reality show or something – surely all of this cant be real??!!
Its like something out of a Laurel & Hardy movie – outsiders reading our news must be in fits of laughter!!
Now the clowns running the show are pumping raw sewage into the sea…. but hey – at least they have waited until winter when no-one is swimming & no tourists are here!! OH NO…. the buffoons have yet again stuffed that one up…
Utter disgrace…. however I am clinging on to the hope that the powers that be are not ruining this lovely island – we are part of a Big Brother TV show for the rest of the world & Ant & Dec are going to pop up a any minute & tell us its all been staged for the last few months!
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Since when has Guernsey been a third world country unable to do anything more than pump raw sewage into our sea?
We have (or should I say, should have)beautiful beaches here to be proud of but yet we pump raw sewage into the sea, there is no way on this earth that I go in the sea and nor do I allow my children because I think it’s disgusting. How can the island expect locals and tourists to do so?
Come on Guernsey, it’s time to do something a little more 21st century with our sewage
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Well W H Bonney: The mention of Laurel and Hardy brought tears to my eyes.– Tears of joy, of being entertained, superb innocent fun
These States also bring tears to my eyes-Tears of frustration of indignant thoughts of how we could ever allow these idiots to rule our beautiful Island.
Can we not appeal to her Majesty after all it states in our passport
Her Britannic Majesty’s
Principle Secretary of State
For Foreign and Commonwealth affairs
Requests and requires, in the name of
Her Majesty
All those whom it may concern
To allow the bearer to pass freely
without let or hindrance
And to afford the bearer
Such assistance and protection
As may be necessary.
Well we need assistance NOW; to protect our children and others who live nearby.
We ask in the name of Her Majesty
to come to the assistance of the Islanders. this form of Sewage disposal must stop. all other earmarked affairs must be put on hold till this sewage affair is righted
God gave us a beautiful Island with crystal clear water with and abundance of seafood–
But our States just shows a finger to God; I am not a vicious man, but I hope those responsible will be punished by Him for destroying that which he gave to us.
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W H Bonney – I agree it is bad timing but I assume that the reason that it has not been done in the winter is that when the pipe burst last year it caused all sorts of mess and they don’t want to risk the same thing happening during the school holidays. At least this way they get it fixed under a planned process, rather than having to react to another emergency.
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Ever thought the abundance/diversity of marine life is aided by the sewage treatment or lack of??
Maybe not as it is right now, but definately the usual method provides vitamins, food etc. for all the little (and big) fishies surrounding the island.
“there is no way on this earth that I go in the sea and nor do I allow my children because I think it’s disgusting” – ever thought of just not swimming at belle greve? maybe somewhere like vazon or port soif – even saints- where the water remains clear and safe. As said we live on an island blessed with clear water – might as well make the most out of it – and before anyone desides to mention that currents can caryy it blah blah blah!
I think the beach association and clean water servays will shut you all up!
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I wonder what the gent in the previous entry would say if he saw the lobster on his plate filmed two days before on the seabed enjoying a lovely “dead sailor”!If anyone believes that raw sewage provides food for sea creatures then he should think back to BSE,caused by animals eating food made from dead animals!But of course its no use building a sewage works unless the ancient and crumbling waste pipe system is modernised.But for one of the supposedly richest societies whats the problem?So ask yourself,while on holiday in Grand Canaria or elsewhere,would I come here if I knew raw sewage was being pumped into the sea I swim in just around the headland?Come on Guernsey,get your finger out,do now what your(and my)great,great,great grandfathers should have done many moons ago!
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Eric you write
Can we not appeal to her Majesty after all it states in our passport
Her Britannic Majesty’s
Principle Secretary of State
For Foreign and Commonwealth affairs
Requests and requires, in the name of
Her Majesty
All those whom it may concern
To allow the bearer to pass freely
without let or hindrance
And to afford the bearer
Such assistance and protection
As may be necessary.
Well we need assistance NOW; to protect our children and others who live nearby.
We ask in the name of Her Majesty
to come to the assistance of the Islanders. this form of Sewage disposal must stop. all other earmarked affairs must be put on hold till this sewage affair is righted
If only…………… Guernsey is NOT part of the UK and I have this assurance in black and white on UK Ministry of Justice headed notepaper signed by Lord Willy Bachs. This was in response to a letter I wrote to Her Majesty regarding the treatment of UK subjects in the Channel Islands and quoted the passport undertaking as you have done. The Queen was kind enough to reply promptly and to ask Jack Straw to deal with the matter. There is no consulate or embassy or any place for non Channel Island citizens to obtain help. The States of Guernsey at least are hostile to the UK. Although Her Majesty may have every sympathy with your plight there is little she can actually do.
a fellow sufferer
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The situation is just as bad in Alderney where a new pieline has been installed but it is not long enough and raw sewage is being pumped straight into Crabby Bay with the accompanying slick and stench for all to see and smell when the wind is in the right direction! I wouldn’t want to live near that coast when all your windows have to be closed even when it is hot.
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Alderney visiter,
As someone who was born in St Annes its a terrible thought that your holiday could be “spoilt”by sewage.And otherwise its such a lovely place if you hit the right weather.When I was a kid there sewage was not really a problem with the few people who lived there,and the simple food they ate in those days.I can only assume that the “rich”who come to live on our Islands do so for one reason only.You have three guesses,two you’ve wasted!
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i dont care that ive put my name up, but WTF!!!!!!!!!! my kids love playing dwn that beach, i was brought up playing dwn there each summer, NO WAY r my kids ever going dwn there again,, sommit should be sorted out an fast.
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