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July 2021 July 2021

input to these meetings. The summary minutes from our June meeting is below. purely for pleasure, they all have an equal
chance. Also, wetsuits are not allowed in
The emergency response appeared to go relatively well and was received well any of the club’s races as this is not
within the community. Social media seems unusually complimentary. considered in the true spirit of an all year

Any negativity appears to have been focused on the need for a fence, which round open air swimming club. I well
has been unfortunately fed by a Daily Mail article giving large amounts of detail. remember back in the 1960s my old
Barnstaple club used to organise
Police radio and mobile communication was poor on the beach, meaning that handicap races with many finishing in a
commanders couldn’t get reliable updates. In the interim, we are looking into line. These were great fun and I find it a
police borrowing the estate radio for incidents like this (it would have to be pity that the ASA somehow abandoned
located in the info point). Longer term, I’ve been made aware of a 5G plan for them.
coverage in the coastal margins. This would be immensely helpful for all
emergency services and would support our airwave (the radios we currently use) Time to enter the fray and on the
replacement which is mobile data-based. appointed time, I dived into the water. After the glorious July heat wave, it was
wonderfully warm, around 23C/24C I would say. Yes, it was a little murky but that
The Police have been in touch with DWFRS, Coastguard and SWAST and have is what you would expect when swimming in a lake, but the taste of the fresh
invited them to future water was superb.
Working Group meetings.
The club organises races throughout the year from 40 yards in January when
Roads are slightly busier often the ice has to be broken to a mile in high summer when it is a more balmy
than a ‘normal’ (pre- temperature. I had just missed the 1,000 yards bridge to bridge race which had
covid) year, but the taken place a couple of weeks before. I loved the way distances were still
system is coping. No measured on the imperial scale, an echo of a glorious past.
vehicles have yet been
towed-away, but the
facility is there if required
The police have patrols
frequently in the area,
and it is a ‘priority
location’ for staff on
overtime shifts at the
weekends. However’
demand on Dorset
Police has been much
less in this area than last year. Only 5 incidents of interest so far since April.

The Estate reports much less rubbish (1-4 bags rather than 200) compared to the
equivalent time last year. Some BBQs confiscated from visitors, but very few and
the roadside banners and signs appear to have had an effect.

Overall, community tension is lower, but has the potential to spike if we have
further serious incidents. We’re all doing what we can, and it’s important that
residents and visitors know this. We will hold a further meeting in August if there are
significant additional problems otherwise, we will be holding a wash up meeting in
September/October.

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