Environment

Quick Links:   [Refuse]   [Green Waste]   [Recycling]   [Drainage/Flooding]   [Pest Birds]

Useful Information from Devon County Council ‘Highways Bible’. Includes information regarding potholes, drainage, vegetation and roads.

Refuse Collections

Musbury now has four collections, which all take place on a Monday:

  • A landfill collection (large grey wheelie bin) every 3 weeks – not the same Monday for the whole parish.
  • Recycling collections (green bin and sack) every week.
  • A food waste collection (blue fliptop bin) every week.

Full details of exactly when collections take place, what goes in each container etc can be found at EDDC Recycling and Waste.

Green Waste

East Devon District Council started up a new Green Waste Collection Service in the Spring of 2018. Details can be found at EDDC Green Waste Service.

Recycling Centre

More information on recycling in Devon is available at Recycle Devon.

Drainage/Flooding

Floods can happen anywhere at anytime, caused by rising ground water levels, burst water drains, hillside run-off from sudden rain as well as flooding from rivers and the sea. The village’s location on the side of a hill means that parts of Musbury can experience increased surface water when there is heavy rain and subsequently more run-off from the fields.

Residents are asked to keep drains and gullies in the vicinity of their property as free from blockage as possible to minimize the risk of flooding.

A supply of sandbags is available from Councillor Paul Smith at the Old Barn, Musbury.

Please report blocked road gullies or roadside ditches to Devon County Council Highways: Telephone: 01392 381300.

While most of the homes within the parish of Musbury are not at risk from flooding from the nearby River Axe, some land on the outskirts is in a flood plain.

Organization Telephone (office hours) Telephone (out of hours)
Floodline 0845 988 1188 0845 988 1188
District Council 01395 516551 01395 516854
County Council 0845 155 1015 0845 155 1004
Highway Emergency 01392 383329
Water Company
(flooded by sewage)
0800 169 1144
0800 169 9965 (minicom)
0800 169 1144
Western Power (power cuts) 0800 365900 0800 365900
Gas (gas leaks) 0800 111999 0800 111999
BT (general enquires) 01525 290647 01525 290647
Police 0845 277444 0845 277444
Met Office (weathercall) 09014 722054

More local information on flooding and its prevention can be found at EDDC Flooding Information or the Flood Warning Information Service.

Pest Birds

Musbury has long been home to colonies of rooks. Before Dutch elm disease wiped out their roost in the 60s and 70s, the chief rookeries were in high trees along the A358. With the end of the elms the rooks moved into the centre of the village. In the late winter and early spring the rooks begin to make or repair their nests in preparation for breeding. They are particularly vocal during these months!

Some seagulls also try to nest in Musbury but you can discourage them from nesting and roosting on your property by not feeding them and by using a variety of deterrents – see EDDC Seagulls General Advice and Information.

All wild birds are protected in the UK by the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 and its subsequent amendments. In the act it states, “all wild birds, their nest and their eggs are protected by law”. However, there are currently twelve exempt species, including Herring Gulls, Greater Black Backed Gulls, Lesser Black Backed Gulls and rooks, all of which are recognised as nuisance pests.

If there are public health or public safety concerns, a General Licence could be issued by Natural England (previously English Nature) to allow control measures to be taken. A Licence permits a landowner or person authorised by him to take, damage or destroy the nests or eggs or kill birds in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in the Licence. Problems with noise, smells and property damage are not sufficient public health reasons to be given a Licence.