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
Showing posts with label sustainability. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sustainability. Show all posts
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
Monday, 27 April 2009
Myfanwy holds a Conference on a creating a sustainable economy for Wales at the National Botanical Gardens
As we face the twin crises of the recession and rapid environmental change, Plaid Cymru’s Dr. Myfanwy Davies and Nerys Evans AM hosted a one-day conference with experts from a range of fields aiming to develop solutions on each level of government. The conference was held at the National Botanical Gardens on Saturday.
Key points made were:
• Wales has excellent resources to produce sustainable food and energy
• These industries support good long-term jobs
• The policies of councils, the Welsh Assembly and Westminster could increase the market available for local food and energy
• The relationships of supermarkets to suppliers need to be regulated
• Communities need to have a better deal when selling locally produced energy on the national grid
• Communities need to make their own decisions on which sustainable technologies to develop
Speaking from Llanelli, Dr. Myfanwy Davies, Plaid’s candidate in Llanelli for the next Westminster election said:
“As a party we have been committed to sustainability for decades, we are fully committed to acting upon the points raised at this important conference. It is clear that the recession and the wider environmental crisis are linked to patterns of consumption that create huge inequalities of wealth and that make our jobs uncertain”.
“We have seen an increase in joblessness of 80% in Llanelli over the past year. Those jobs were lost because it is too easy to relocate and because we do not have policies in place that mean we are able to buy local goods in preference to those shipped from the other side of the world”
Adam Price, MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr added:
“We all need to change the way we think and the way we live to respond to the environmental and financial crisis. There is a lot we can do as individuals, but essentially we need bold actions from politicians. I was very pleased to see so many experts and organisations come to the conference and I would urge people concerned about crisis facing the environment to get involved politically and start making their points from inside the political parties”.
Key points made were:
• Wales has excellent resources to produce sustainable food and energy
• These industries support good long-term jobs
• The policies of councils, the Welsh Assembly and Westminster could increase the market available for local food and energy
• The relationships of supermarkets to suppliers need to be regulated
• Communities need to have a better deal when selling locally produced energy on the national grid
• Communities need to make their own decisions on which sustainable technologies to develop
Speaking from Llanelli, Dr. Myfanwy Davies, Plaid’s candidate in Llanelli for the next Westminster election said:
“As a party we have been committed to sustainability for decades, we are fully committed to acting upon the points raised at this important conference. It is clear that the recession and the wider environmental crisis are linked to patterns of consumption that create huge inequalities of wealth and that make our jobs uncertain”.
“We have seen an increase in joblessness of 80% in Llanelli over the past year. Those jobs were lost because it is too easy to relocate and because we do not have policies in place that mean we are able to buy local goods in preference to those shipped from the other side of the world”
Adam Price, MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr added:
“We all need to change the way we think and the way we live to respond to the environmental and financial crisis. There is a lot we can do as individuals, but essentially we need bold actions from politicians. I was very pleased to see so many experts and organisations come to the conference and I would urge people concerned about crisis facing the environment to get involved politically and start making their points from inside the political parties”.
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Myfanwy to host Carmarthenshire conference on building a sustainable economy
Dr Myfanwy Davies, Plaid’s Llanelli Westminster candidate and Plaid regional AM, Nerys Evans will host a high-profile national conference on saving jobs and preparing for a green economy. The event which will be held at the Botanic Gardens near Llandeilo will explore how to protect local jobs and businesses from the effects of the recession while building an economy that is sustainable and where decisions are made by local people.
The ‘Sustainable Spring’ conference will focus in particular on developing sustainable food and energy production and improving infrastructure like roads, rail and telecommunications. It is expected that around 150 people will attend including experts and representatives from the environmental sector, industry and the farming unions. With figures recently released showing dramatic differences in the effects of the recession across the UK, the conference will explore why the recession has hit Wales - and particularly West Wales - so much harder than other parts of the UK.
Speaking from her campaign office in Llanelli, Myfanwy said:
“The economic crisis and the environmental crises are closely related. The Brown boom of the last few years was based on consumption that nobody could afford. But once again, it is our communities in Llanelli and Carmarthen that are suffering while Brown protects the bankers.
“The conference is about taking a hard look at the policies that got us here – looking at transport, education and how we use our natural resources – using the powers that we have in the Assembly, Westminster, Europe and our councils to create a stronger, greener economy.
“We will see Wales through but it will be a different economy that comes out of this recession. It will be an economy that puts people ahead of profits and that is sustainable and locally-based. We can offer that change and the conference is about establishing how we can work with experts, environmentalists and industry to deliver that change”.
Nerys Evans AM added:
“We have always believed in developing a sustainable economy in Wales. It is proof of the seriousness with which we take the economic and environmental crises that so many of our front line politicians will meet with representatives from the field for a day to develop an integrated approach to living sustainably. We will see Wales through the crisis but now is the time to make sure we are world-leaders in living and working sustainably."
The ‘Sustainable Spring’ conference will focus in particular on developing sustainable food and energy production and improving infrastructure like roads, rail and telecommunications. It is expected that around 150 people will attend including experts and representatives from the environmental sector, industry and the farming unions. With figures recently released showing dramatic differences in the effects of the recession across the UK, the conference will explore why the recession has hit Wales - and particularly West Wales - so much harder than other parts of the UK.
Speaking from her campaign office in Llanelli, Myfanwy said:
“The economic crisis and the environmental crises are closely related. The Brown boom of the last few years was based on consumption that nobody could afford. But once again, it is our communities in Llanelli and Carmarthen that are suffering while Brown protects the bankers.
“The conference is about taking a hard look at the policies that got us here – looking at transport, education and how we use our natural resources – using the powers that we have in the Assembly, Westminster, Europe and our councils to create a stronger, greener economy.
“We will see Wales through but it will be a different economy that comes out of this recession. It will be an economy that puts people ahead of profits and that is sustainable and locally-based. We can offer that change and the conference is about establishing how we can work with experts, environmentalists and industry to deliver that change”.
Nerys Evans AM added:
“We have always believed in developing a sustainable economy in Wales. It is proof of the seriousness with which we take the economic and environmental crises that so many of our front line politicians will meet with representatives from the field for a day to develop an integrated approach to living sustainably. We will see Wales through the crisis but now is the time to make sure we are world-leaders in living and working sustainably."
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