Popular singer and Plaid Cymru President Dafydd Iwan will join Dr Myfanwy Davies, Plaid’s Llanelli Westminster candidate and Helen Mary Jones AM together with and parents, volunteers and young people with a range of disabilities to close Breakthro’ s 25th birthday celebration with a special concert at Stebonheath Club on Saturday. Dafydd Iwan has been a disability campaigner for many years and is a founder member of Antur Waunfawr a successful community enterprise based outside Caernarfon which is part-run by people with disabilities.
The group’s birthday celebrations began on 25th of July when Dafydd Iwan visited the Coleshill Centre to cut an enormous 40 inch birthday cake. He and Myfanwy served the cake to volunteers and Breakthro’ members and Dafydd closed the visit by singing especially composed songs to the young people. Last weekend a group of Breakthro volunteers led by Jessica Sheehan completed a sponsored climb to the summit of Snowdon to celebrate the group’s birthday. Before beginning their climb, they were met for breakfast by Myfanwy and Hywel Williams MP, who represents the Arfon constituency in which Snowdon stands.
Tickets for Saturday’s concert are selling fast with some sold to people from Neath and one man travelling by bus from Swansea to Burry Port solely to make sure he had a ticket in advance. Dafydd Iwan will be waiving his usual fee and it is hoped that the group will make over £1,000 to support its activities.
Dafydd Iwan said:
“I am fully supportive of the work of Breakthro’. It is enormously important that young people with disabilities get to meet and socialise with each other as well as learning skills in mainstream schools and colleges. The young people have developed exceptionally strong friendships and they have learnt to depend on each other and to support each other. Developing that kind of trust takes years but it is crucial if people with a range of disabilities are to have a full social life. I was delighted that Myfanwy asked me to become involved with the group and am looking forward to Saturday very much.
Myfanwy said:
“We are very grateful to Dafydd for coming down once again to support Breakthro’. The impromptu concert he gave the young people last month was an extraordinary event with some young people who are usually quite withdrawn coming out of themselves and singing and dancing to the music. Next Saturday’s concert promises to be even better and tickets are going fast. I’m pleased that Helen Mary will be able to be there too. Like me she is very proud of Breakthro’ Llanelli because of the work it does but also because of the unstinting support the group has from people and groups across Llanelli”.
Christine Darkin, who has been Breakthro’s organiser for over 10 years said:
“Just a few months ago we were facing a drastic cut in our budget and we were considering how we could continue to keep the club going for our members who are now adults and who have grown up with the Club. Now thanks to an intervention by social services, we are looking forward to going into our 26th year and the support we’ve had from people across Llanelli has been amazing. I’m really looking forward to Dafydd’s concert !”
Notes to Editor
The concert will take place at Stebonheath Football Club in Llanelli at 7pm on Saturday 15th August. Tickets will be available at the venue and are priced at £10 or can be ordered on 07940122776
Wednesday 12 August 2009
Myfanwy leads fight for free ATMs in Llanelli communities
ATMs that charge people to withdraw their money are cashing in on some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, says Dr Myfanwy Davies, Plaid’s Llanelli Westminster candidate. While there is a choice of free ATMs in the town centre and in the retail parks, people in areas like Felinfoel and Llwynhendy need to choose carefully if they are to avoid paying up to £1.99 for a withdrawal of any kind. In Dafen and Furnace, there is currently no choice other than to pay to withdraw cash.
Myfanwy is worried by the recent rapid price increases on charging ATMs. She believes this development is particularly damaging to families struggling to deal with the recession and to groups like older people and the disabled who do not have easy access to transport. Myfanwy will be working with Plaid colleagues at Westminster to call on the UK government to regulate charges on ATMs that target the most vulnerable in our communities.
Myfanwy will also be working with Plaid’s Social Justice Spokesman, Dr. Dai Lloyd AM and Helen Mary Jones AM to investigate what can be done at an Assembly and local level to protect Welsh communities from unfair charges.
Dr Davies said:
“These withdrawal charges target people on lower incomes who take out less money at once as so pay more as a proportion on each withdrawal. These unfair charges also disproportionately affect people like pensioners whose benefits are paid directly into their accounts”.
“For those who don’t have access to cars and who live in communities like Llwynhendy and Felinfoel where most cash machines charge for withdrawal, this is an additional cost at a time when they need it least. In communities like Furnace and Dafen, there is literally no choice available.”
“Small shops and pubs in our communities provide a vital service and it is easy to see why owners would be willing to host a fee-paying ATM. Nonetheless, my concern is that the charges will place an unsustainable burden on their most loyal customers and in the longer term, introducing these ATMs may jeopardise the future of our key local businesses as people spend less locally”.
“Over the last five years the number of cash machines that charge has increased by more than 18,000 while free cash machines have only increased by around eight thousand.”
“This is an issue of basic social justice. We can’t allow our most vulnerable people to be unfairly targeted in this way and I will be working closely with Helen Mary and colleagues at Westminster to find ways of providing free ATMs across all our communities.”
Cllr. Clem Thomas from Dafen added:
“I am concerned that there is no free ATM in Dafen. We are lucky to still have our post office which has so far survived the Governments’ closure programme but the days of withdrawing benefits and pensions directly and over the counter are long gone.”
“In these difficult times, I can understand entirely why small business people would want to diversify by providing a fee-paying ATM which provides them with up 60p per transaction. It goes without saying that we need to support small local businesses. Nonetheless I am sceptical whether the cost of having a fee-paying ATM in a local business does not outweigh the potential benefit as people who feel they have paid a large fee are likely to spend less in that business than they otherwise would.”
DIWEDD / ENDS
Notes for editor
Myfanwy is campaigning for 3 things:
1. She is working with Plaid’s MPs to press the London Labour Government to regulate ATM charges and the proliferation of charging ATMs.
2. She working with Helen Mary Jones to call on WAG to increase the provision of free machines for example through public service providers such as post office network, local government offices or community centres
3. She is researching into whether planning law can be amended to protect isolated/deprived communities where there is currently no option other than to pay for cash withdrawal.
For a map of ATMs and details of charging in the Llanelli area go to: www.link.co.uk
Myfanwy is worried by the recent rapid price increases on charging ATMs. She believes this development is particularly damaging to families struggling to deal with the recession and to groups like older people and the disabled who do not have easy access to transport. Myfanwy will be working with Plaid colleagues at Westminster to call on the UK government to regulate charges on ATMs that target the most vulnerable in our communities.
Myfanwy will also be working with Plaid’s Social Justice Spokesman, Dr. Dai Lloyd AM and Helen Mary Jones AM to investigate what can be done at an Assembly and local level to protect Welsh communities from unfair charges.
Dr Davies said:
“These withdrawal charges target people on lower incomes who take out less money at once as so pay more as a proportion on each withdrawal. These unfair charges also disproportionately affect people like pensioners whose benefits are paid directly into their accounts”.
“For those who don’t have access to cars and who live in communities like Llwynhendy and Felinfoel where most cash machines charge for withdrawal, this is an additional cost at a time when they need it least. In communities like Furnace and Dafen, there is literally no choice available.”
“Small shops and pubs in our communities provide a vital service and it is easy to see why owners would be willing to host a fee-paying ATM. Nonetheless, my concern is that the charges will place an unsustainable burden on their most loyal customers and in the longer term, introducing these ATMs may jeopardise the future of our key local businesses as people spend less locally”.
“Over the last five years the number of cash machines that charge has increased by more than 18,000 while free cash machines have only increased by around eight thousand.”
“This is an issue of basic social justice. We can’t allow our most vulnerable people to be unfairly targeted in this way and I will be working closely with Helen Mary and colleagues at Westminster to find ways of providing free ATMs across all our communities.”
Cllr. Clem Thomas from Dafen added:
“I am concerned that there is no free ATM in Dafen. We are lucky to still have our post office which has so far survived the Governments’ closure programme but the days of withdrawing benefits and pensions directly and over the counter are long gone.”
“In these difficult times, I can understand entirely why small business people would want to diversify by providing a fee-paying ATM which provides them with up 60p per transaction. It goes without saying that we need to support small local businesses. Nonetheless I am sceptical whether the cost of having a fee-paying ATM in a local business does not outweigh the potential benefit as people who feel they have paid a large fee are likely to spend less in that business than they otherwise would.”
DIWEDD / ENDS
Notes for editor
Myfanwy is campaigning for 3 things:
1. She is working with Plaid’s MPs to press the London Labour Government to regulate ATM charges and the proliferation of charging ATMs.
2. She working with Helen Mary Jones to call on WAG to increase the provision of free machines for example through public service providers such as post office network, local government offices or community centres
3. She is researching into whether planning law can be amended to protect isolated/deprived communities where there is currently no option other than to pay for cash withdrawal.
For a map of ATMs and details of charging in the Llanelli area go to: www.link.co.uk
Dafydd Iwan and Myfanwy to celebrate Breaktho’s 25th anniversary with young people and carers
Popular singer and Plaid Cymru President Dafydd Iwan will join Dr Myfanwy Davies, Plaid’s Llanelli Westminster candidate and parents and young people with learning difficulties to celebrate Breakthro’ s 25th birthday at the Coleshill Centre on Saturday. Dafydd Iwan has been a disability campaigner for many years and is a founder member of Antur Waunfawr a successful community enterprise based outside Caernarfon which is run by people with learning difficulties and employs people with and without learning disabilities.
On Saturday, children and young people will meet with Dafydd Iwan and Myfanwy Davies, who is a sponsor of Breakthro’ to share a 40inch square birthday cake. Dafydd Iwan will also perform in a fundraising concert for Breakthro on 15th August at Stebonheath Club in Llanelli.
Dafydd Iwan said:
“Breakthro’ does extremely important work and I’m particularly pleased to see some of the younger people themselves starting to run the group. I know from my experience at Antur Waunfawr what a difference that makes to young people’s sense of pride in themselves that they are able to make their own decisions. It is a real achievement for eveyone involved in Breakthro’ to have kept the group going so long and it also reflects the incredible support they have had from people in Llanelli. Da iawn nhw!”
Myfanwy said:
“Dafydd and I are immensely pleased to be part of the birthday celebrations that will also include Dafydd’s concert on the 15th of August. The difference Breakthro’ makes in the lives of the children and young people it serves is immeasurable because it gives them a place where they are never judged and where they can take responsibility for each other. I wish them a wonderful birthday and a great anniversary year”
Robin Burn, Trustee of Breakthro said:
“All the members of the Management committee, and Christine and Jess our club Coordinators are immensely pleased to have Myfanwy and Dafydd take part in our birthday celebrations on Saturday. All our clients are excited at the prospect of a special birthday celebratio
n with all the trimmings. Special thanks to Dafydd for supporting us through the concert on August 15th. We hope this will help raise funds to enhancing the lives of the adults and children that use the club, Diolch yn fawr, Dafydd a Myfanwy” .
Notes to Editor
Breakthro’ was established in Llanelli in 1984 to provide social activities and opportunities for children with learning difficulties. Parents, carers and the young people themselves coopertate in organising actitivites including holidays, cinema visits, meals and fund-raising events. Activities are provided for children and for young people who have grown up with Breakthro’. The future of the group had been in doubt due to a lack of funding but a recent contribution from Carmarthenshire County Council has ensured that it has been able to continue into its 26th year.
On Saturday, children and young people will meet with Dafydd Iwan and Myfanwy Davies, who is a sponsor of Breakthro’ to share a 40inch square birthday cake. Dafydd Iwan will also perform in a fundraising concert for Breakthro on 15th August at Stebonheath Club in Llanelli.
Dafydd Iwan said:
“Breakthro’ does extremely important work and I’m particularly pleased to see some of the younger people themselves starting to run the group. I know from my experience at Antur Waunfawr what a difference that makes to young people’s sense of pride in themselves that they are able to make their own decisions. It is a real achievement for eveyone involved in Breakthro’ to have kept the group going so long and it also reflects the incredible support they have had from people in Llanelli. Da iawn nhw!”
Myfanwy said:
“Dafydd and I are immensely pleased to be part of the birthday celebrations that will also include Dafydd’s concert on the 15th of August. The difference Breakthro’ makes in the lives of the children and young people it serves is immeasurable because it gives them a place where they are never judged and where they can take responsibility for each other. I wish them a wonderful birthday and a great anniversary year”
Robin Burn, Trustee of Breakthro said:
“All the members of the Management committee, and Christine and Jess our club Coordinators are immensely pleased to have Myfanwy and Dafydd take part in our birthday celebrations on Saturday. All our clients are excited at the prospect of a special birthday celebratio
n with all the trimmings. Special thanks to Dafydd for supporting us through the concert on August 15th. We hope this will help raise funds to enhancing the lives of the adults and children that use the club, Diolch yn fawr, Dafydd a Myfanwy” .
Notes to Editor
Breakthro’ was established in Llanelli in 1984 to provide social activities and opportunities for children with learning difficulties. Parents, carers and the young people themselves coopertate in organising actitivites including holidays, cinema visits, meals and fund-raising events. Activities are provided for children and for young people who have grown up with Breakthro’. The future of the group had been in doubt due to a lack of funding but a recent contribution from Carmarthenshire County Council has ensured that it has been able to continue into its 26th year.
Myfanwy and Mari Davies back Pwll residents fighting for answers on flooding
Following the misery caused by flooding in Llanelli earlier this month, Dr Myfanwy Davies Plaid’s Westminster Candidate for Llanelli and her mother, Hengoed Councillor Cllr. Mari Davies visited residents in the Nurseries and Bassett Terrace in Pwll.
Residents raised concerns about the management of the river Dulais, the bed of which has risen considerably due to a failure to remove silt and stones. Concerns have also been raised about the condition of the mud and sand bank behind the Nurseries which was breached this month leading to severe flooding in the Nurseries. Further concerns raised by residents in Bassett Terrace centre on the diversion of the River Dulais which now flows directly behind their homes.
Trudi Williams who is a spokesperson for the group said:
“When I moved here they said that severe flooding happens once in seventy years but we’ve had floods three times in the last ten years. During all that time, the silt and stones in the river have not been cleared and the only time I have ever seen people from the Environment Agency here is once we have had flooding. They admit responsibility for managing the river, so let’s see some management. We need the river cleared so that there is room for the water to flow because the arches under the bridge are nearly underwater even on a dry day. When there is heavy rain, it has got to the point where it will overflow. I live in dread of stormy weather now because I just don’t know how bad it could get”
Myfanwy Davies said: “It is clear that the Agency needs to remove the silt and stones from the river Dulais. I am appalled that they have allowed the river bed to fill up so dangerously when we know that the area suffers from flooding and I will be demanding swift action to clear the debris before the next heavy rain”.
“It is very disappointing that the Agency is seeking to avoid responsibility for the flood defenses behind the Nurseries. Together with Helen Mary Jones I will be working to establish who owns the bank so that we can ensure that resources are found to build adequate flood defenses”.
“I was shown photos of the River Dulais where it is diverted behind Basset Terrace after heavy rain and it is clear that the 90 degree bend slows the flow of the water and is much more likely to cause flooding. I have been told that representatives of the Environment Agency have agreed to reinforce the wall behind the nurseries but none of the residents know what implications that building work would have further upstream. I have written to Jane Davidson AM, the Minister for the Environment to ask her for an inquiry into the potential risk of flooding where rivers have been diverted by the Environment Agency. Clearly there are implications for other areas where rivers have been diverted. I will ask the Minister to ensure that the Agency performs its basic statutory duty of managing the river behind the Nurseries and I have also asked Helen Mary Jones to call a meeting with Ms Davidson and local residents at the earliest possible date”.
Cllr Mari Davies said: “It is just not acceptable for the Environment Agency to try to avoid its fundamental duty of managing the river north of Pwll Road. If the residents of the Nurseries are responsible for the bank, and that is debatable, why were they never informed of that and advised what to do to protect their homes? We need to know whether a flooding risk assessment was performed before the river Dulais was diverted south of Pwll Road. Myfanwy is quite right to raise those questions with Helen Mary and the Minister.”
Diwedd / Ends
Notes for Editors:
The residents are keen to address 3 issues:
1. To have the river dredged behind the Nurseries
2. To establish who owns that bank, what defense works would be suitable and what resources could be found to help them build them
3. To establish whether the houses in Bassett Terrace and The Nurseries are more likely to be flooded following the diversion of the Dulais and the low walls build around it to prevent flooding.
Residents raised concerns about the management of the river Dulais, the bed of which has risen considerably due to a failure to remove silt and stones. Concerns have also been raised about the condition of the mud and sand bank behind the Nurseries which was breached this month leading to severe flooding in the Nurseries. Further concerns raised by residents in Bassett Terrace centre on the diversion of the River Dulais which now flows directly behind their homes.
Trudi Williams who is a spokesperson for the group said:
“When I moved here they said that severe flooding happens once in seventy years but we’ve had floods three times in the last ten years. During all that time, the silt and stones in the river have not been cleared and the only time I have ever seen people from the Environment Agency here is once we have had flooding. They admit responsibility for managing the river, so let’s see some management. We need the river cleared so that there is room for the water to flow because the arches under the bridge are nearly underwater even on a dry day. When there is heavy rain, it has got to the point where it will overflow. I live in dread of stormy weather now because I just don’t know how bad it could get”
Myfanwy Davies said: “It is clear that the Agency needs to remove the silt and stones from the river Dulais. I am appalled that they have allowed the river bed to fill up so dangerously when we know that the area suffers from flooding and I will be demanding swift action to clear the debris before the next heavy rain”.
“It is very disappointing that the Agency is seeking to avoid responsibility for the flood defenses behind the Nurseries. Together with Helen Mary Jones I will be working to establish who owns the bank so that we can ensure that resources are found to build adequate flood defenses”.
“I was shown photos of the River Dulais where it is diverted behind Basset Terrace after heavy rain and it is clear that the 90 degree bend slows the flow of the water and is much more likely to cause flooding. I have been told that representatives of the Environment Agency have agreed to reinforce the wall behind the nurseries but none of the residents know what implications that building work would have further upstream. I have written to Jane Davidson AM, the Minister for the Environment to ask her for an inquiry into the potential risk of flooding where rivers have been diverted by the Environment Agency. Clearly there are implications for other areas where rivers have been diverted. I will ask the Minister to ensure that the Agency performs its basic statutory duty of managing the river behind the Nurseries and I have also asked Helen Mary Jones to call a meeting with Ms Davidson and local residents at the earliest possible date”.
Cllr Mari Davies said: “It is just not acceptable for the Environment Agency to try to avoid its fundamental duty of managing the river north of Pwll Road. If the residents of the Nurseries are responsible for the bank, and that is debatable, why were they never informed of that and advised what to do to protect their homes? We need to know whether a flooding risk assessment was performed before the river Dulais was diverted south of Pwll Road. Myfanwy is quite right to raise those questions with Helen Mary and the Minister.”
Diwedd / Ends
Notes for Editors:
The residents are keen to address 3 issues:
1. To have the river dredged behind the Nurseries
2. To establish who owns that bank, what defense works would be suitable and what resources could be found to help them build them
3. To establish whether the houses in Bassett Terrace and The Nurseries are more likely to be flooded following the diversion of the Dulais and the low walls build around it to prevent flooding.
Friday 7 August 2009
Breaktho reaches for the summit to celebrate 25th anniversary on top of Snowdon
Dr Myfanwy Davies, Plaid’s Llanelli Westminster candidate and patron of Llanelli disabilities group, Breakthro’, met volunteers working for the group celebrating Breakthro’ s 25th birthday and raising funds by climbing Snowdon on Saturday 6th August. Dr Davies was joined by Hywel Williams MP who represents the Arfon constituency in which Snowdon stands, for breakfast with the group. Mr Williams who worked for many years in social care, recently helped celebrate the 25th Birthday of Antur Waunfawr a successful community enterprise based in his constituency outside Caernarfon which is part-run by people with learning difficulties.
.
Hywel Williams said:
“It goes without saying that young people with disabilities need to learn and gain confidence in a range of settings. My experience with Antur Waunfawr has shown me how people like the members of Breakthro’ can make very important contributions in the workplace. Breakthro’ also offers children and young people a place where they can take responsibility for themselves and each other. I’m immensely pleased that the group has lasted so long particularly since it was recently under threat. The fact that the group has lasted so long says a lot about the support that people in Llanelli have been willing to give it over the years and it's great that Myfanwy was able to help gain the core funding that Breakthro' relies on!”
Myfanwy said:
“The work Breakthro’ does is sometimes overlooked because it doesn’t focus on teaching skills or preparing people for employment. The group is mainly focused on enabling young people a range of disabilities to have the same kind of social life as other people of their age. I have seen many of the young people support and help each other week by week. On Saturday the volunteers climbing Snowdon had a large part of our country at their feet. I hope that memory stays with them because there is so much they can do they work together. I’m now looking forward to the Dafydd Iwan concert next Saturday that is the high point of Breakthro’s birthday celebrations”
Jessica Sheehan Breakthro’ organiser said:
“We wanted to mark the birthday in style. Breakthro’ is all about making sure that our members have access to all the things they want to do. What better way could there be of celebrating what Breakthro has done and what it wants to do than to climb right up to the top of Snowdon?
.
Hywel Williams said:
“It goes without saying that young people with disabilities need to learn and gain confidence in a range of settings. My experience with Antur Waunfawr has shown me how people like the members of Breakthro’ can make very important contributions in the workplace. Breakthro’ also offers children and young people a place where they can take responsibility for themselves and each other. I’m immensely pleased that the group has lasted so long particularly since it was recently under threat. The fact that the group has lasted so long says a lot about the support that people in Llanelli have been willing to give it over the years and it's great that Myfanwy was able to help gain the core funding that Breakthro' relies on!”
Myfanwy said:
“The work Breakthro’ does is sometimes overlooked because it doesn’t focus on teaching skills or preparing people for employment. The group is mainly focused on enabling young people a range of disabilities to have the same kind of social life as other people of their age. I have seen many of the young people support and help each other week by week. On Saturday the volunteers climbing Snowdon had a large part of our country at their feet. I hope that memory stays with them because there is so much they can do they work together. I’m now looking forward to the Dafydd Iwan concert next Saturday that is the high point of Breakthro’s birthday celebrations”
Jessica Sheehan Breakthro’ organiser said:
“We wanted to mark the birthday in style. Breakthro’ is all about making sure that our members have access to all the things they want to do. What better way could there be of celebrating what Breakthro has done and what it wants to do than to climb right up to the top of Snowdon?
Wednesday 5 August 2009
Myfanwy and Pembrey councillors demand action on release of sewage into Burry Inlet
Dr Myfanwy Davies, Plaid’s Llanelli Westminster candidate, has obtained data from the Environment Agency that show levels of sewage in the Burry Inlet from Pembrey that are once again in breach of European standards. Readings for sewage bacteria (Feacal Coliforms and Feacal Streptococci) in the inlet rose from 10 parts per 100 ml. on July 1st and 32 on the 9th July to 400 on the 17th July and 420 on the 23rd July. During July, sewage bacteria thus increased by more than three thousand percent (3000%). This follows heavy rain on the night of the 15/16th during which the Ashburnham sewage pump discharged untreated sewage for 12 hours. As heavy rain also fell on the night of July the 28/29th, it is expected that levels of sewage bacteria will continue to be very high during the next week.
While these reading are classified as ‘good’ by the UK and EU standards, the Environment Agency’s own figures show they are many times worse than the vast majority of beaches in Wales tested by the Agency. In addition UK/EU standards of ‘good’ water quality have been criticised for causing a number of health risks. Conditions proven to be associated with sewage pollution in bathing water within acceptable (‘good’) UK/EU levels are problems of the digestive tract and skin diseases. The EU has much higher bathing water standards than these where sea life is in danger of being poisoned by algae growing on sewage particles (eutrification). Since 2002, parts of the Burry Inlet have been classified as being at risk in this way.
Following an intervention by Dr. Davies on 30th June, Plaid MEP, Jill Evans met with representatives of the European Commission to inform them of recent levels of sewage pollution and continuing cockle deaths in the Inlet. As a result of this meeting, infringement proceedings, leading to a possible £1 million per day fine on the UK Government, have been started. Ms. Evans will be informing the European Commission of the recent surge in pollution.
Dr. Davies said:“The Environment Agency allows Dŵr Cymru to release raw sewage into the inlet in circumstances where sewage would otherwise flow back towards people’s homes. Of course discharging sewage is better than allowing it to flood people’s homes, but it is shocking that Dŵr Cymru continues to put people in Llanelli, Pembrey and Burry Port in this position.”
“Following a report form the UK Government on the need to separate sewage and storm water, it is likely that Welsh law will make the separation of sewage and storm water compulsory. In the light of this, Dŵr Cymru has publicly committed itself to separate sewage and storm water by replacing old and deficient pipes such as those that have served Llanelli, Burry Port and Pembrey for decades. The company has also indicated its intention to build a new water treatment works, but what we need to see is a timetable for replacing the pipes and building the sewage works. We pay high water rates in Llanelli and it is right that we expect Dŵr Cymru to respect its obligation to us to keep us and our homes safe and to preserve the cockle industry.”
Cllr Robin Burn from Pembrey said: “People in Pembrey and all along the inlet should not have to accept that their bathing water is polluted time and again because the sewage processing plant at Bynea is inadequate. UK Standards for bathing water are low and pose risks to people’s health. Added to that, the estuary is a particularly sensitive area and we are in danger of losing the cockle industry. Dŵr Cymru must commit to building the new water treatment works.”
Cllr Malcolm Davies of Pembrey added:
“People in Pembrey are worried that once again Cefn Sidan next year will not be awarded a blue flag. This is in marked contrast to the increase in Welsh beaches that reach this level and there are fears that it will have an effect on people’s confidence in the safety of the water and their willingness to visit Pembrey. It is very frustrating that the Environment agency, which is the body that awards Blue Flags is also the body that allows this pollution to happen when there is a storm”.
Notes to Editor:
Welsh Water/ Dŵr Cymru response to the DEFRA paper calling for a halt to releasing surface water through the sewage system can be found at: http://www.dwrcymru.co.uk/English/library/publications/surface%20water%20management%20strategy/english.pdf
For complications associated with sewage pollution within acceptable EU/UK levels see for example: Prieto, MD et al. J Epidemiol Community Health 2001;55:442-447. http://jech.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/55/6/442
While these reading are classified as ‘good’ by the UK and EU standards, the Environment Agency’s own figures show they are many times worse than the vast majority of beaches in Wales tested by the Agency. In addition UK/EU standards of ‘good’ water quality have been criticised for causing a number of health risks. Conditions proven to be associated with sewage pollution in bathing water within acceptable (‘good’) UK/EU levels are problems of the digestive tract and skin diseases. The EU has much higher bathing water standards than these where sea life is in danger of being poisoned by algae growing on sewage particles (eutrification). Since 2002, parts of the Burry Inlet have been classified as being at risk in this way.
Following an intervention by Dr. Davies on 30th June, Plaid MEP, Jill Evans met with representatives of the European Commission to inform them of recent levels of sewage pollution and continuing cockle deaths in the Inlet. As a result of this meeting, infringement proceedings, leading to a possible £1 million per day fine on the UK Government, have been started. Ms. Evans will be informing the European Commission of the recent surge in pollution.
Dr. Davies said:“The Environment Agency allows Dŵr Cymru to release raw sewage into the inlet in circumstances where sewage would otherwise flow back towards people’s homes. Of course discharging sewage is better than allowing it to flood people’s homes, but it is shocking that Dŵr Cymru continues to put people in Llanelli, Pembrey and Burry Port in this position.”
“Following a report form the UK Government on the need to separate sewage and storm water, it is likely that Welsh law will make the separation of sewage and storm water compulsory. In the light of this, Dŵr Cymru has publicly committed itself to separate sewage and storm water by replacing old and deficient pipes such as those that have served Llanelli, Burry Port and Pembrey for decades. The company has also indicated its intention to build a new water treatment works, but what we need to see is a timetable for replacing the pipes and building the sewage works. We pay high water rates in Llanelli and it is right that we expect Dŵr Cymru to respect its obligation to us to keep us and our homes safe and to preserve the cockle industry.”
Cllr Robin Burn from Pembrey said: “People in Pembrey and all along the inlet should not have to accept that their bathing water is polluted time and again because the sewage processing plant at Bynea is inadequate. UK Standards for bathing water are low and pose risks to people’s health. Added to that, the estuary is a particularly sensitive area and we are in danger of losing the cockle industry. Dŵr Cymru must commit to building the new water treatment works.”
Cllr Malcolm Davies of Pembrey added:
“People in Pembrey are worried that once again Cefn Sidan next year will not be awarded a blue flag. This is in marked contrast to the increase in Welsh beaches that reach this level and there are fears that it will have an effect on people’s confidence in the safety of the water and their willingness to visit Pembrey. It is very frustrating that the Environment agency, which is the body that awards Blue Flags is also the body that allows this pollution to happen when there is a storm”.
Notes to Editor:
Welsh Water/ Dŵr Cymru response to the DEFRA paper calling for a halt to releasing surface water through the sewage system can be found at: http://www.dwrcymru.co.uk/English/library/publications/surface%20water%20management%20strategy/english.pdf
For complications associated with sewage pollution within acceptable EU/UK levels see for example: Prieto, MD et al. J Epidemiol Community Health 2001;55:442-447. http://jech.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/55/6/442
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