BCP Council approves Christchurch Harbour and Marine Society’s proposal for new environmental protection policy for harbour

A new environmental protection policy for Christchurch Harbour was given the green light as hundreds of protesters gathered outside council offices.

Wearing swimming gear and chanting they wanted “fish, not floaters”, the protest group at BCP Council’s offices yesterday (Tuesday) evening called for an end to the “severe” sewage pollution which has left the harbour feeling like the region’s “toilet bowl”.

Among the estimated 200 protesters were some of the 4,400 Christchurch residents who signed a petition calling for a policy that also protects the harbour from construction run-off pollution.

Presenting the petition in the council chamber, Christchurch Harbour and Marine Society secretary Vanessa Rickets said: “We gathered over 4,400 signatures over Christmas and the new year…that is the strength of feeling not just in Christchurch but across the BCP area regarding the state of our rivers and the damage pollution is causing to our beautiful natural harbour and protected environment.

“The importance of Christchurch Harbour is not currently recognised by the council in the Local Plan and we believe that, without a policy to protect it, the harbour will be an eco desert in next five to 10 years.”

She told councillors the rivers Avon and Stour feeding the harbour have “unacceptable” levels of phosphorous and other pollutants that are having a “significantly detrimental” effect on the harbour’s ecology, contributing to the reduction of the area’s salt marsh.

She added: “The current pressure of nutrient pollution has an adverse effect on the harbour’s integrity and needs to be addressed as matter of urgency before it’s too late and the habitat, along with its protected species, are lost forever.”

Cllr Andy Hadley said he welcomed the proposed policy and has been working with officers to have the harbour, Hengistbury Head and Stanpit Marsh designated as a national nature reserve.

He said any new policy would need to balance environmental needs with the area’s recreational use, and warned many of the pollution issues affecting the harbour are outside of BCP Council’s control.

Welcoming the petition and policy proposal, Cllr Michael Tarling also warned “very little” of the River Avon is under BCP Council’s control.

Cllr Margaret Phipps said: “I’m told what is happening to the harbour is called ‘ecocide’. The documented sewage discharges are huge.”

In supporting the new policy, she added: “This is an environmental disaster that is happening now. We need to do our very best to see what we can do to alleviate this.”

Cllr John Beesley said he supported the proposal “very strongly”. “We live in a wonderful natural environment and I think we often don’t realise how fortunate we are,” he added.

“It is our responsibility, on our watch, to protect that. If we don’t, we’re failing not just the environment but every future generation.”

Cllr Andy Martin thanked Christchurch Harbour and Marine Society and petition signatories for putting the harbour on the council’s agenda “in the way it should have been in the past”.

Recognising the protesters outside the council offices, he added: “They don’t merit the word ‘protesters’. They’re not protesters, they’re people who are passionate about the future of the environment and the harbour, and I thank them for coming along.

“They’re probably the most polite protesters, chanting about what they want and saying ‘please’ afterwards – that’s Christchurch for you.”

Chairing the meeting, Cllr Lesley Dedman joked: “I don’t think I’ll ever forget the phrase ‘we want fish, not floaters’.”

After BCP councillors voted unanimously to introduce a new environmental protection policy, Christchurch Harbour and Marine Society chair Martin Stewart said: “The people of Christchurch have voted with their feet.

“Having first delivered BCP Council a record-breaking petition, they made their voices heard in no uncertain terms on the streets of Bournemouth demanding the implementation of a proper protection policy to protect this precious and unique ecosystem from the horrendous blight of sewage pollution.”

River Action chair Charles Watson, who previously warned the “severe” sewage in Christchurch Harbour has left it feeling like the region’s “toilet bowl”, also welcomed the vote.

He told the A&T: “Year after year our national government has failed to take effective action to prevent horrendous levels of pollution blighting critically important areas of biodiversity such as Christchurch Harbour.

“However, this week we were shown the way forward by a courageous and dedicated local community who simply said, ‘enough is enough’.

“BCP Council now needs to act upon the resolution its members unanimously passed and introduce the necessary measures to protect the harbour as a matter of urgency.”

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