Even cleaner seas for South West Devon

A major project to deliver even cleaner seas off South West Devon gets under way next month.

South West Water will be constructing an 800 cubic metre underground storm water storage tank in the Poundwell Meadow long stay car park in Modbury.

Work on the tank at the rear of the car park will begin on 1 September and this area of Poundwell Meadow long stay car park will be out of use during the works.

The Poundwell Street car park nearby will be open as usual. The works have been timed to avoid the peak tourist season and should be complete by February 2015.

The work is part of a £7.2million investment and includes improvements to the sewerage network in Ivybridge, Ermington, Modbury and Holbeton.

The works will reduce the number of storm discharges into the sea and rivers during extremely wet weather. The schemes are designed to improve bathing water quality at Mothecombe beach ahead of the European Union's revised Bathing Water Directive, which comes into effect in 2015.

Senior Project Manager Mike Court said: "In total, the work represents a major investment in bathing water quality in the area, which will benefit the tourism industry across South West Devon.

"We believe that, with the help of the local community, this major investment will help deliver even cleaner seas for the South Hams, in time for the new European bathing water standards next year."

For more information see www.southwestwater.co.uk/evencleanerseas