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Modern history

Profile image for old_school

By old_school at 19:21 on 23/01/12

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 For those of you who weren't here at the time, this year marks the twentieth anniversary of one of the greatest upheavals to Bude's normal tranquil life, when South West Water brought their Clean Sweep program to the town
For those of you who weren't here at the time, this year marks the twentieth anniversary of one of the greatest upheavals to Bude's normal tranquil life, when South West Water brought their Clean Sweep program to the town
  • For those of you who weren't here at the time, this year marks the twentieth anniversary of one of the greatest upheavals to Bude's normal tranquil life, when South West Water brought their Clean Sweep program to the town
  • A line of metal monsters was erected across Summerleaze beach, from the carpark to the landward end of the breakwater
  • At the same time an immense field of concrete-lined pipes was assembled in the carpark and joined together in vast lengths
  • The metal supports made a strange sight for those out for a walk along the canal - like a line of invading Martians
  • A large crane was used in the carpark to assemble the sections of the pipe and move them into position
  • While this was going on, the slope at the end of the breakwater was being taken to pieces bit by bit - with all the pieces carefully marked for later reassembly.......
  • ....and, off-shore, a floating excavator was digging a trench, with the help of explosive charges
  • This extended over half a mile out to sea
  • As time progressed the breakwater was cut completely through.....
  • ..... and the lengths of assembled pipe took over nearly the whole carpark...
  • .... this gives some idea of the length of each pipe, assembled from several shorter sections
  • Another activity at the time was digging a huge pit to the back of the castle, which would house the pumping station
  • Once dug, piledrivers were used to put in shuttering to support the chasm....
  • ..... this section of the works joined to the carpark by a temporary bridge over the river
  • Eventually it became time to join all the long sections together into one continuous concrete snake, which was pulled out, over the supports, to the breakwater
  • .... one long horizontal pipe up to, and over, the breakwater
  • It's surprising how flexible concrete can be....
  • .... a gently curving pipe, nearly 3 feet in diameter, leading from the carpark.....
  • ....over the breakwater and into the trench dug out into the sea
  • ... after which the breach in the breakwater was repaired, with every rock and stone going back exactly where it came from so, today, you would not know it had happened
  • The pipe being fed into the trench....
  • ....which had been dug - and blasted - out into the sea....
  • .....to the business end of the operational pipe, well out to sea, where the treated sewage is finally discharged - without environmental damage, hopefully!
  • All a compete contrast to the celebrations which surrounded the opening of previous 'new sewage works' just over 100 years agog, in 1909
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  • Profile image for daisys2

    wow i never knew all this went on! very interesting.

    By daisys2 at 10:33 on 20/04/12

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  • Profile image for albertine135

    Wow! And I've been grumbling about the loss of the trees at the roundabout at the bottom of Bencoolen road! I suppose if it makes us all more comfortable, sacrifices have to be made. Thank you, Old school.

    By albertine135 at 20:17 on 02/03/12

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  • Profile image for kevincolwill

    We shouldn't forget that there was a lot of controversy in the run to this scheme. Many local people were of the opinion that protesters should shut up and not draw attention to the sewage problem for fear of harming the tourist trade. As if sewage waste all over Summerleaze beach was going to help tourism!
    Others, myself included, felt the SWW scheme was a half way house that fell well short of the objective of a full treatment works. I assure you there were some very bitter exchanges, some of which stopped just short of physical fights.
    I well remember the scheme opening with SWW chairman Keith Court (who many felt was responsible for the cover up of the Camleford water poisoning incident) arriving like some foreign head of state. SWW had a purpose built scaffold platform near the wooden beach huts. Rumour had it they hired the scaffolding locally but as they wanted the scaffold tubes cut and painted they had to buy it. Only they never bothered removing it so the scaffold company too it all back... Ahh --- the good old days!!

    By kevincolwill at 16:45 on 31/01/12

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  • Profile image for BudePeeps

    This has been a very popular gallery, Old School. Lots of viewings by the silent majority, so thanks again.......

    By BudePeeps at 13:15 on 24/01/12

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  • Profile image for old_school

    Trev - it happened in 1992, so this is the 20th anniversary

    By old_school at 12:04 on 24/01/12

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