GUIDELINES FOR REPORTING POLLUTION INCIDENTS

[Jamie]

I note from recent comments on the 'Sightings' page, my own recent observations and comments made by a number of members I have met in the field that, over the past few weeks, the amount of rubbish blowing off the Teesmouth tips is excessive and unacceptable to say the least. The Seaton Meadows Tip is particularly bad and rubbish has seriously polluted large areas of Seaton Common and Dunes and the wider areas beyond, reflecting poor waste management. Fence lines, shrubby vegetation and even the water-filled creeks and pools are choked with plastic bags and other rubbish. This is both highly unsightly and damaging to wildlife. In instances such as this, the Club has agreed a reporting procedure with the Environment Agency, as follows: please ring the Agency's Incident Hotline as soon as possible on their freephone number 0800 807060 (free from landlines only, not mobiles). It is open 24 hours a day and they will take details of the incident, including its location, nearest road number/name, nature and extent of the problem and your name and address (if you wish to give these, otherwise you can remain anonymous). If you give your name, the Agency will ask you if you require any feedback from them on the action taken. I know that incidents involving the Seaton Meadows Tip have been reported to the Agency on a number of occasions during the past several weeks, the latest being yesterday. As every report is logged, please ring the Hotline when you see something: don't assume someone else has done so and the more people who ring in about an event, the better. The Agency also wishes us to report other incidents, including water pollution, illegal salmon fishing, fly-tipping, dumping of fridges and freezers (such as at South Gare), illegal burning of waste (eg wire burning, old tyres, etc) and poaching. Please report all incidents you see - if you don't, the incident won't be logged and nothing will be done. Thank you for your co-operation.

Ted Parker (Chairman)