The post you are reporting:
As some of you may be aware, over the last five years or so I have been a regular volunteer with the White Cliffs Countryside Partnership mainly helping out cleaning rubbish out of the Dour. The WCCP run their clean ups from April and October with a halt over the winter so as not to disturb the trout breeding in the gravel river beds. The WCCP are allowed to remove rubbish from the river, but are not allowed to touch the plant life - this falls under the remit of the Environment Agency. The WCCP receives funding from multiple sources including many official bodies. Via the use of volunteer labour, they effectively clean the river for a tiny fraction of the cost any official body would charge.
Firstly, the good news. During 2011 we removed 461 sacks of rubbish, 5 pushbikes, 4 scooters, and 2 trolleys. A total of 50 volunteers had attended for a total of 129 volunteer days. We are now attaining more volunteers than ever before with an average of 18.5 volunteers per work day.
Now the bad news. At our annual 'thank you' meal last week, it was sadly announced that the Environment Agency will cease funding the WCCP's work in the Dour. They will no longer be providing the £2000 funding that pays for the tools, group insurance, transport and supervisor funds. Due to claimed financial constraints they have allegedly decided that rubbish does not fall under their remit and that they intend to concentrate their efforts in The Stour.
Unless funding to the extent of about £2000 can be found from alternative sources, the clean ups will end and the Dour Walk will revert to a state that will be an embarrassment to Dover. The rubbish will build up creating an unsightly mess and effectively undoing all the good work, care and attention that has gone into making our river the attractive and environmentally- healthy state it currently is. This, of course, will be the detriment of locals, tourists and the wildlife. It should be unthinkable that the town bearing the Olympic Torch next year may potentially have a rubbish dump flowing through it.
Although those willing could continue on an individual basis, providing accommodation could be found for the equipment, we would have to take out our own personal insurance which could be prohibitively expensive for many members.
The fight isn't over yet, but I thought readers may like to be aware of a potential disaster about to unfold should the situation not be resolved over the next few months.
Please note that I am only a volunteer with the WCCP and am not a paid staff member or engaged in any official position within the group whatsoever. I have had no access to any e-mails between the two bodies.
