Get rid of rust bucket
MY wife and I have just returned from a week in North Devon where we especially like the Fremington Quay area with its well kept paths and the views over the estuary.
Pat, who is confined to her wheelchair, can use her camera to record these views and keep them in her mind for that rainy day that prevents her from accompanying me and our dog on our walks.
However, this time our visit was very much spoiled by the sight of a rusting hulk beached and seemingly abandoned on the foreshore some 100 yards from the quay where I believe she had been moored a couple of years ago.
This vessel appears abandoned now as she lies shorn of her anchor and chain, life rafts, rudder and propeller with the tail shaft having been removed. How can this be allowed to happen?
Surely there is some regulation about abandoning such a rusty and derelict hulk on the shore? Is English Heritage not aware of this? I believe there are dangers that come with leaving such a rusty container abandoned. It probably no longer contains lubricating oils, but could still have a considerable amount of residue ready to escape as soon as the rust advances far enough to allow pin holes to appear.
I hope that when we are next in the area the responsible people — either the local councillors or English Heritage — will have removed this vessel to a suitable scrapyard.
I seem to recall a paper that was circulated to me when I was a councillor in Exmouth that laid out the matter of stranded vessels on the foreshore. Isn't it against the law to deliberately abandon vessels so to avoid paying dock fees or mooring charges? Perhaps this could be a way to ensure the removal of this hulk.
RON ROBERTS,
Littlemead Lane,
Exmouth.
6 Comments
by Private Pike, Barnstaple
Thursday, July 29 2010, 11:05AM
“Just got to agree with lyric of barum.
Its the flash jacket and hard hat that does it for me.”
by Edward, Clovelly
Thursday, July 29 2010, 8:08AM
“John Harrison, the oil spill, or any other news story whatsoever, whether large or small, is irrelevant to what the person has written about. Why do some people think just becase there has been a major or catastrophic event somewhere in the world, it means no-one else is permitted be dissatisfied about anything else in the world?
I'm sure the writer is fully aware that in the grand scheme of things, this issue is small, but why should that stop him from being able to discuss it?
I hope the writer will see beyond your holier-than-thou guilt tripping, as it is irrelevant to this story.”
by John Harrison, Newport Barnstaple
Wednesday, July 21 2010, 8:47PM
“Ron Roberts
I am sorry to learn that your visit to Fremington Quay was very much spoiled because of an abandoned boat, I hope it is not having any long term traumatic affect on you.
Now lets get real' BP has caused a very serious oil slick in the gulf of Mexico,and you are so upset about a boat on the shore in North Devon ?
maybe you should get out more.
personally I think it adds to the view.
What is really ruining North Devon is all the new houses being built all over the place and being occupied by the overspill from Groccleland.”
by lyric, barum
Sunday, July 18 2010, 2:13PM
“Rodney Cann must have a fulltime photographer as his face seems to be in the paper every week.”
by Len, Landkey
Wednesday, July 14 2010, 12:32PM
“I said in a comment a year or two ago that the Severn Sands should have been towed out to sea and used as target practice by the navy.
But of course the so-called owner at the time, tore me off a strip saying that it was seaworthy and quite valuable and that I did'nt know anything about these things.
Why can't it be just towed to a designated scrapping facility and broken up, Surely it's scrap value must be quite a lot, and would help to defray the costs of such an operation”
by Grim Reaper, Barnstaple
Wednesday, July 14 2010, 12:23PM
“Things should start moving now cos Rodney Cann in a reflex jacket has had his picture taken in front of the Severn Sands.
Don't know how he will manage when it's gone.”