“A ‘public consultation’ without the fishing industry present.” [comment from a meeting this week]
“Conservationists and smaller fishers say the expansion scheme is ‘good for the big boys’ but will not benefit the Devon port” [comment from the Guardian August 2022]
“Fishing is a huge part of our heritage but we need to do it more sustainably.” [Brixham conservation organisation Tide]
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This is a story with a long history – and without much transparency.
A LONG-RUNNING STORY OF INTEREST TO SIDMOUTH
Back in May 2022, this blog reported on Increasing questions about expanding Brixham’s Fish Quay and Market; this was followed by More questions about expanding Brixham’s Fish Quay and at the end of the year by More questions about fish and fishing from Brixham.
It could be pointed out that ‘Brixham is not Sidmouth’ so why should a news blog devoted to life in the Sid Valley be interested in something happening at the far end of Devon?
Firstly, it could be argued that even though this is ‘not Sidmouth’, it is still important: Brixham is our main fishing centre, we need to be keeping an eye of ‘development’ happening elsewhere in Devon. and this is all about democratic accountability and transparency. And it needs to be broadcast.
Secondly, this ongoing story needs to be broadcast because what happens elsewhere in the county is taken note of. And this news blog has been taken note of in Brixham.
THE LATEST CONCERNS ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF BRIXHAM FISH QUAY
An observer of life in Brixham has contacted this blog:
“I read your articles where you raise concerns about the expansion of Brixham Fish Quay. In case this is still of concern for you, a local resident put this post up on a local social media group today [Wednesday 25th February] in case they are of interest.”
“At the Brixham Chamber of Commerce AGM last night a presentation was made in regards to the plans to develop the Oxen Cove car park for use by the fishing (By fishing I use the term to refer to any business reliant on fish/shellfsh etc. caught at sea & brought back to Brixham in preparation for sale & those associated businesses that service boats, provide logistical & moral support to those employed so etc. that are eyeing up the possibility of making use of the units that will become available as part of the expansion).
At the meeting a “powerpoint” presentation of the proposed expansion of the fishing on Oxen Cove was made, unfortunately the presentation was not in focus so details, though partially talked through, were difficult to discern to say the least!
It was also noted that despite requests made at previous Torbay Council “led” discussions/Q&A’s/have you says/consultations/meetings… to the council representative also in attendance at the BCC AGM for someone from the fishing to be present who would be able to contextualise the plans & answer questions that those present were unable to answer (as at prior engagements) no individual from the fishing was present, whether they had been invited or not I have no idea.
As presented last night the current view is that the plan for precisely how Oxen Cove will be developed will be decided sometime between now & the end of June & the project will be completed in the first three months of 2028.
The “public consultation” in regards to the Oxen Cove expansion commences Monday 16th March & carries on until Wednesday 8th April with a “Q&A/have your say…” being held at the Scala on Saturday 21st March from 10am – 2pm, we’ll see what can be done in regards to actually having someone from the fishing in a position to answer questions present at this Saturday 21st March meet up just so that as much pertinent information can be made public as possible.”
There are several points to unpack here.
THE OXEN COVE PROJECT
In July last year, local Councillor Dave Thomas said “Big things are coming for Brixham”:
Earlier this month a number of our councillors and officers met with members from Brixham Town Council and Brixham Chamber of Commerce. The reason for the visit was to share the emerging design proposals that we have been working on with our Regeneration Partners – Wilmott Dixon and Milligan – to improve Brixham for everyone who uses the town, whether that be for business or pleasure.
The two large projects include the expansion of the commercial port on Oxen Cove and the options to significantly increase the current capacity of central car park. The first project that was shared at the meeting was the Brixham Port Infrastructure Project. This is looking at providing 2,550sqm of new space for the fishing industry. The expansion of the port would create around 40 new fishing related jobs and will be funded by £9.791 million of government funding which has already been secured.
And just before Christmas last year, the Brixham town centre and harbour regeneration plans were announced:
Torbay Council has published the Brixham Town Centre Place Vision, a strategic document designed to attract investment, funding and development opportunities into the town. The vision has been developed over the past year by Torbay Council in partnership with regeneration partners Willmott Dixon and Milligan, working alongside stakeholders including Brixham Town Council. It draws on existing planning frameworks such as the Brixham Neighbourhood Plan, adopted in 2019, and will be reviewed and updated annually. The document sets out an ambition to position Brixham as a vibrant coastal community that builds on its historic fishing heritage while supporting modern living, businesses and tourism.
A LACK OF ENGAGEMENT, A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY
Our observer from Brixham makes a key point:
“It was quiet for a long time but I think things are going to move quickly now and the impression I’m getting is that Brixham council and those with a vested interest locally want to push things forward quickly with little consultation.”
Looking at the social media post above which was passed on by our observer, we can see further discussion on the meeting from the Chamber of Commerce at Brixham Community Hub | At the Brixham Chamber of Commerce AGM held on Tuesday night a presentation was made in regards to the plans to develop the Oxen Cove car park for use…
The author of this piece added yesterday:
ADDITIONAL NOTE (added Thursday 26th February):
The meeting was not only very poorly attended – it should be standing room only given the scale of the planned works, same goes for any meetings about the central car park & the ever more rubber stamped “housing developments” – but it was also hurried along as “it’s getting late”, those proposing & backing such schemes must allow a full & proper discussion & have questions prompted by answers given to the previous question asked & answered in turn. It is no wonder the state of things: folk not bothering to turn up & hosts/project leaders not wanting to give a full account of themselves, both facilitate the other hence the sens of “why bother?/they’re all the same”, talk of “backhanders” & “brown paper envelopes”… folk receive the governance they acquiesce to.
And there’s quite a debate that follows in that post.
This is not the only social media thread where local people are questioning the lack of involvement: BRIXHAM (FISH TOWN) | Does anyone know about plans to develop oxen cove
A piece from the Guardian from August 2022 seems to sum up the mood that is still very prevalent today: ‘It will benefit the powerful’: row over Brixham fish market levelling up plan:
Conservationists and smaller fishers say the expansion scheme is ‘good for the big boys’ but will not benefit the Devon port. A scheme to double the size of England’s most lucrative fish market and provide more room for “industrial” trawlers using levelling up funds has been condemned by green campaigners, smaller-scale fishers and leisure boat enthusiasts.
Critics claim the plans for the Devon harbour town of Brixham, which is expected to land a record-breaking £50m worth of fish this year, will lead to more environmentally damaging fishing practices, increase lorry movements and benefit a few powerful businesses rather than improving the town as a whole. A diverse group of sceptics ranging from conservationists to the local yacht club, town councillors and day boat skippers has expressed concern at the bid by Torbay council for £20m of cash from the levelling up fund.
“It will be good for the big boys who already make shitloads of money,” said Tristan Northway, who skippers a 9-metre fishing boat, Adela, and sells directly from the deck of his vessel. “But it will do nothing for the rest of us and nothing for the town.”
Harry Barton, the chief executive of Devon Wildlife Trust, said the expansion would lead to further damage to the seabed and greater carbon emissions. “Trawling and dredging are among the most destructive activities that happen in the marine environment,” he said. “The fishing industry is a major contributor to carbon emissions. This is partly from the emissions of the engines but more significantly because dredgers stir up the sediments on the sea floor, resulting in large amounts of carbon being released.”
Such has been the success of the Brixham market that fishers based hundreds of miles away, from ports such as Hastings in East Sussex and Aberystwyth in mid Wales, send their catch to be sold there before it is shipped back out on lorries across Europe.
Duncan Kenny, of the Brixham conservation organisation Tide, who lives on the harbourside, said: “Already we see and hear trucks coming in day and night. It’s madness. I would rather levelling up money be put into improving healthcare, investing in schools, transport. Fishing is a huge part of our heritage but we need to do it more sustainably.”
Colin Moore, a spokesperson for Ocean Rebellion in south Devon, said the campaign group had run one demonstration against large-scale fishing in Brixham and planned others. “Levelling up money must not be used to boost industrial fishing,” he said.
THE FUTURE OF FISHING ON THE SOUTH COAST
Sidmouth only has one fishing family left – and yet the story of Sidmouth’s fishing heritage is an important part of life here. This is also the case in Brixham and other traditional fishing communities across the coasts of Britain and beyond.
However, as the Guardian post pointed out, the fishing industry today is very much about industrial fishing – hardly the romantic picture of tradition and heritage and community.
The other question, and one that vexes local fishers, is: Are we overfishing in our waters? Which means that local fishing communities are very keen to see us restoring our sea beds – as this produces a more sustainable future, with the Marine Reserve in Lyme Bay providing a good model of how fishing can work for both fish and local communities.
A piece from Rye along the Sussex coast from August 2024 asked: Is this the future of fishing?
Brixham’s model is one of “hub and spoke”. They buy fish landed in Rye, put it in a fridge (they also have these units at Hastings, Ramsgate and across the south) and then truck it to Brixham where it is auctioned and trucked to buyers. By law and regulations it must be taken to Brixham first even if its landed in Rye – this was confirmed to me by Matthew Bailey of Brixham Fish Market. They have developed their business model rapidly using government funding earmarked for our beleaguered fishing industry.
There are clear concerns about fair competition when Brixham have had so much funding compared with Chapmans. The impact of thousands more food miles is far from sustainable (their sustainability statement is incredibly vague) and damages the environment. What will happen to Rye’s fishing fleet when this economically and environmentally unsustainable model is no longer profitable?
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