Teignbridge’s principal river has gained a voice to fight against pollution and unite the communities that have an interest in its 31-mile watercourse.

Friends of the River Teign, a community group set up to preserve and enhance the Teign and its surrounding waters, officially launched on Sunday (October 13).

The group is focusing on three areas: water quality; biodiversity; and building links with communities who have an interest in the river.

One of the Friends’ key areas of work will be conducting official water quality tests. ‘The official (Environment Agency) tests stopped in September, but we know that many people still swim in the river every day,’ noted Stuart Reynolds the catalyst behind the creation of the Friends of the River Teign group.

Stuart Reynolds on Shaldon Beach at the launch of Friends of the River Teign
Stuart Reynolds launches Friends of the River Teign on Shaldon Beach (Jo Bowery / MDA)

The group plans to conduct at least 20 water quality tests over the winter, to the same standard as those carried out by the Environment Agency. The tests will cost around £600 and Friends of the Teign hopes to raise the money for the tests and other activities via a crowdfunding campaign.

‘We want to be evidence based, using reliable science and expert knowledge to make the case for better water quality,’ Stuart pointed out.

Lending his support to the new Friends group, was Martin Wrigley MP, who conducted the first official Friends of the River Teign water quality test. The tests measure bacteria levels that indicate the presence of faecal material in the river.

Martin Wrigley MP dons his waders to take a sample from the river for water quality testing
Martin Wrigley MP dons his waders to take a sample from the river for water quality testing (Jo Bowery / MDA)

‘It’s outrageous that the Environment Agency doesn’t test outside the summer,’ Mr Wrigley commented.

‘There have been years and years of underinvestment,’ Mr Wrigley said as he promised to demand a meeting with the chief executive of South West Water. ‘We must keep the pressure on them, he added. ‘Together we can make a difference.’

While water quality is an important part of what Friends of the River Teign is all about, Stuart was keen to point out that the group aims to be a positive force for good. ‘While we may, from time to time, give South West Water a hard time, it’s not just about sewage,’ he noted.

Also speaking at the launch event were: Anna Leatherdale, who explained her work testing water quality upstream at Trusham; RSPB warden John White, who talked about the diversity of wildlife on the Teign; and Dr Severine Santier, a law professor and member of Friends of the River Exe, who discussed the legal action being launched by businesses and individuals affected by sewage pollution in Exmouth.

Anna Leatherdale, wildlife warden Action on Climate Teignbridge, volunteer Westcountry Rivers Trust
Anna Leatherdale talks about water quality testing further up the River Teign at Trusham (Jo Bowery)

Tim Bouget, owner of Ode True Food in Shaldon, added his support to the Friends. ‘There are many challenges operating a business in a rural coastal community that is a seasonal destination,’ he said in a statement passed on to the organisers. ‘We really cannot cope with the added challenge of water quality and the pollution issues that we now face on a regular basis.’

Friends of the River Teign will hold its annual general meeting in December and plans to hold litter picks around the Teign estuary in the coming months.