Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Environmental Issues
Water pollution is obviously top of the environmental agenda. A few decades ago some of
the region's beaches were in a sorry state, and it wasn't uncommon to find raw sewage and
industrial effluents being pumped straight into the sea just a few miles from the most popu-
lar swimming spots. Happily, thanks to pressure put on local government by environmental
NGOs and local campaign groups such as
Surfers Against Sewage
(
www.sas.org.uk
)
, the
southwest has cleaned up its act and now boasts some of the most spotless coastline any-
where in Britain. Sixteen beaches in Devon and five in Cornwall currently hold the coveted
Blue Flag award for water quality (for a full list, visit
www.blueflag.org.uk
). Dogs are
banned on many beaches between April and October.
Other forms of pollution have proved more difficult to tackle. The region's agricultural
industry has caused ongoing problems with pesticides and farming chemicals (especially
nitrates and phosphates), which can seep into the water table, pollute river courses, poison
fish and cause algal bloom. The problem is exacerbated by heavy rain, which washes top-
soil into the rivers and seas.
Coastal erosion is another issue in many areas, especially along the southern coastline of
Devon and Dorset, where landslips and rockfalls are a fact of life. Recent heavy rains and
severe winter storms have accelerated erosion in many areas, and even caused several areas
of the coast path to literally disappear into the sea.
Traffic and air pollution are also growing headaches, especially during peak holiday
periods. The vast majority of visitors - around 80% - travel to the region by car, with all
the attendant problems of parking, pollution and traffic jams. It's not always the easiest op-
tion, but you might find you have a much less stressful time if you leave the car at home
and investigate some other ways of exploring the region: bikes, buses and branch railways
are all useful for dodging the tailbacks on a hot summer's day.
