3 thoughts on “Seaton Town Council to consider plan for Seaton Hole ‘harbour’ on Monday”
AndyB said:
August 30, 2017 at 7:54 pm
I think the harbour is the best idea all things long and short term considered but it will also need good access by road for reaching boats with equipment and trailers, maybe fire and ambulance too etc. Without vehicles having to dodge beach huts and strolling or picnicking holidaymakers and residents. There is a possibility of including an RNLI lifeboat facility perhaps. Also there is a massive risk that the commercials will take over this harbour (as it doesn’t dry out like the existing one) and leave their gear and dingys everywhere, and take up all the mooring space, so visiting leisure craft and crews will just start disregarding it as a place to visit along the south coast. If the commercials intend this then the commercials should pay for the construction.
the sea bed off the beach at Seaton is very barren so in the past I have made enquiries about constructing an environmentally friendly cinder block artificial reef at Seaton to attract marine life and make Seaton more of an interest to shore divers and snorkellers.
The reply was as follows. …unfortunately, I think there would be strong opposition to a harbour from the environmentalist corner.
‘Many thanks for your enquiry about an artificial reef off the shore near Seaton, with apologies for the delay in replying. We are always interested to hear about the conservation work of local volunteer groups. However, it is our policy not to support artificial reef initiatives.
While such projects may lead to a local increase in biodiversity, this will always be at the expense of the existing habitat and communities. Subtidal sand is rarely as barren as it appears, with many creatures living within the seabed sediment even if none are apparent on the surface.
Even if there is little life in the sediment, we believe the best response is to look at why this is the case; is seabed life naturally scarce, in which case we should allow it to remain in its natural state, or is it a result of human disturbance, in which case we might consider measures to reduce that disturbance. Changing the nature of the seabed and allowing a different biological community to develop is not ideal in either case.
I hope that this explains some of the thinking behind our policy. We would be happy to discuss this further.
Kind regards’
Richard White
Senior Marine Advocacy Officer
Devon Wildlife Trust
There is just one reference to the water sports operating from Fisherman’s Gap and no mention at all of how good the beach is for swimmers. Compared to north Devon it is often very smooth and suitable for these more gentle activities. A minority group I know, but a harbour around Seaton Hole as pictured, with access by boats from the sea and consequent pollution from engines would severely affect the safety and pleasure of swimmers and paddle boarders and restrict where they can be. I sincerely hope that Seaton Hole is not developed as envisaged. I also wonder about the effect of marine life and note there is no reference to this either.
Seaton & Colyton MATTERS 
August 30, 2017 at 7:54 pm
I think the harbour is the best idea all things long and short term considered but it will also need good access by road for reaching boats with equipment and trailers, maybe fire and ambulance too etc. Without vehicles having to dodge beach huts and strolling or picnicking holidaymakers and residents. There is a possibility of including an RNLI lifeboat facility perhaps. Also there is a massive risk that the commercials will take over this harbour (as it doesn’t dry out like the existing one) and leave their gear and dingys everywhere, and take up all the mooring space, so visiting leisure craft and crews will just start disregarding it as a place to visit along the south coast. If the commercials intend this then the commercials should pay for the construction.
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August 31, 2017 at 7:47 am
the sea bed off the beach at Seaton is very barren so in the past I have made enquiries about constructing an environmentally friendly cinder block artificial reef at Seaton to attract marine life and make Seaton more of an interest to shore divers and snorkellers.
The reply was as follows. …unfortunately, I think there would be strong opposition to a harbour from the environmentalist corner.
‘Many thanks for your enquiry about an artificial reef off the shore near Seaton, with apologies for the delay in replying. We are always interested to hear about the conservation work of local volunteer groups. However, it is our policy not to support artificial reef initiatives.
While such projects may lead to a local increase in biodiversity, this will always be at the expense of the existing habitat and communities. Subtidal sand is rarely as barren as it appears, with many creatures living within the seabed sediment even if none are apparent on the surface.
Even if there is little life in the sediment, we believe the best response is to look at why this is the case; is seabed life naturally scarce, in which case we should allow it to remain in its natural state, or is it a result of human disturbance, in which case we might consider measures to reduce that disturbance. Changing the nature of the seabed and allowing a different biological community to develop is not ideal in either case.
I hope that this explains some of the thinking behind our policy. We would be happy to discuss this further.
Kind regards’
Richard White
Senior Marine Advocacy Officer
Devon Wildlife Trust
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August 31, 2017 at 7:49 am
There is just one reference to the water sports operating from Fisherman’s Gap and no mention at all of how good the beach is for swimmers. Compared to north Devon it is often very smooth and suitable for these more gentle activities. A minority group I know, but a harbour around Seaton Hole as pictured, with access by boats from the sea and consequent pollution from engines would severely affect the safety and pleasure of swimmers and paddle boarders and restrict where they can be. I sincerely hope that Seaton Hole is not developed as envisaged. I also wonder about the effect of marine life and note there is no reference to this either.
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