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  • ESG Radio Newsletter 29th January 2015


    ESG Radio Newsletter 29th January 2015

     

     

    Hi there-  the start of a year is always busy and 2015 is no different as we participate in the first ever Gib Talks, prepare to give a number of talks, and gear ourselves up for the upcoming election.

     

    During our last newsletter we referred to this weeks DPC meeting which took place yesterday. Among the 30 or so applications were some that caught our interest, indeed some have already been reported in the local press. We would like to touch upon these as we consider them to be of public interest and impacting on our environment.

     

    These are mobile phone antennaes, the open space next to prison car park, extensions at the Desalination Plant at Waterport Road and the scoping opinion on the Sewage Treatment Plant destined for the Brewery Crusher Site.

     

    On the antennaes we continue to expect and press for the best standards and procedures to be followed when installing such equipment in Gibraltar while understanding the difficulty this may present. As advised at the DPC meeting yesterday during the discussion on the masts at Windmill Hill Road, we are seeking meetings with Gibtelecom to present to them directly our concerns and questions on this and on masts in other areas and will continue to follow this matter closely.

     

    Another query we presented was on how the open space next to the New Prison–  presently used by locals and visitors to the Upper Rock, the Retreat etc. is now to be used to house businesses being relocated from the North Mole because of other needs there. The ESG considers this open space to be an important entry point to the Upper Rock Nature Reserve –it is also a buffer between the existing light industrial farm and the reserve and obviously serves as necessary parking facility for those wanting to walk in the Upper Rock. We hope the decision makers will take our concerns shared by some others on the commission on board- indeed the Ministers confirmed this was temporary relocation and that the points raised by the ESG and others would be carefully considered.

     

    A positive agenda item was the scoping opinion for the planned Waste Water Treatment Plant, that’s a sewage plant to you and me. Long overdue and now undergoing the various stages of technical assessments. The ESG has been very happy to submit our recommendations as part of the DPC and is delighted to see that best practice in waste and energy management is being given very serious consideration.

     

    Another item on the agenda of interest to us was the extension of the existing containerised reverse osmosis plant at Waterport Desalination Plant on North Mole Road. The ESG asked that more details be made available to the DPC regarding the scale, impact and screening that has been undertaken on this facility given its industrial nature and proximity to residential areas. A commitment was given by the Minister for the Environment that this information would be made available. More plans presented for projects intending to improve the Upper Town sensitively, and sustainably, were also very positively received. Such urban regeneration can only improve quality of life for those dwelling in the upper town.

     

    And so it was, a remarkably brief DPC meeting, only three hours long this time!!

     

    While Gibraltar begins to prepare for the next election, the ESG is also putting its final touches on our own Wish List and will lobby parties standing for election on how we would like to see Gibraltar move forward to improve our environment. Watch this space. Thanks for listening –please get in touch with any queries, comments or concerns. Our email: esg@gibtelecom.net, phone is 200-48996 and website is esg-gib.net.

     



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