A SECOND chance bid for a flood defence scheme for Teignmouth has united town councillors. The first wave of consultations with river and back beach users, residents and other interested groups was 'low key', but offered enough ideas to ask the Environment Agency to look again. It comes after proposals put forward two years ago fell flat on the face of overwhelming opposition. The Environment Agency pulled out and spent the money elsewhere. But now the town council has agreed to back a scheme in line with the views put forward. It maintains that it will not give the Environment Agency 'carte blanche' on the final design, instead wanting to be in on any firm scheme that will be put in front of the public. In a report to the town council, Cllr Susan Dawe, chairman of the flood defence working party, said: 'Meetings with special interest groups were only moderately well-attended, apart from the Back Beach residents, and some important consultees were not represented, but many creative proposals were put forward.' Cllr Dawe said that poor attendance at open days held at the tomorrow's Teignmouth centre suggested public apathy, 'but in light of the huge response to the 2004 proposals, we anticipate the public would again show interest once firm proposals were put forward'. Feedback highlighted some tricky issues, including the top of the slipway at Gales Hill and concern about defence wall height. The majority of people favoured a rear defence line that would be less intrusive. They ask for sensitivity towards preserving the character of the beaches. The public favoured the demolition of the Old Mortuary. Most people rejected the suggestion of a raised walkway in front of the New Quay Inn and marine business owners expressed some operational concerns. Many asked that the two working quays should not be walled in. Floodgates were a favoured option, but there are legal implications regarding responsibility for their closure. Cllr Dawe said that the council would now ask the Environment Agency to draw up a scheme. 'It has been a huge achievement and a lot of work. 'We await the response of the Environment Agency, but the stated plan was for them to draw up some detailed plans and options using the suggestions that the majority of Teignmouth folk want,' she said.
