Hello, today is our first newsletter for 2014. Hope the festive celebrations met all your expectations.
2013 seems to have passed in a flash – on the environmental front we are hopeful that significant steps taken last year by Government will now pave the way for several major projects to take off in 2014. These being: The Sewage Treatment and Waste Treatment Plants and the long awaited new Power Generating Station.
All three projects were put out to tender in 2013 and we hope contracts are awarded quickly, once all consultation processes are completed. The ESG has lobbied for these since we formed over 13 years ago. Therefore we welcome the signs of imminent action. We further hope that once these three facilities are in place, we shall see major environmental gains that will also improve quality of life for all on the Rock.
We shall of course continue to share our own recommendations and monitor these issues with keen interest. We hope to reflect on other issues on our wish list in our next broadcast two weeks from now.
A quick mention of our highly successful environmental community campaign “Clean up the World” in 2013, engaged around 1,000 people including schools, clubs, associations, businesses, govt agencies and individuals to come together to do something practical and positive for our environment. 2014 will see our tenth year – plans will soon start for this years actions – plse get in touch if you would like to be involved. Call 54960000, or email: esg@gibtelecom.net.
The DPC, that’s the Development and Planning Commission, had its last meeting of the year in December with a number of controversial items on the agenda. Among these was the approval of the destruction of the Risso Bakery on Engineers Lane, the deferral of a proposed office block and large hotel on what was the Royal Yacht Club footprint –deferred in view of wide public objection, and permission for a new fuel pipeline in the port area.
The ESG is taking up the issue of the pipeline directly with Government, as we believe that holistic planning for the Port area is essential – an industrial area like the Port carries environmental impacts far beyond its fence line, and we reiterate our view that any new activity must be rigorously and publicly assessed.
The DPC will resume the same agenda, which was not completed, on the 10th January at 9.30am in the John Mackintosh Hall.
In 2014 we shall continue to work for the precautionary principle and best available technology to be applied to all industrial activity on the Rock – we know we are too small to simply adhere to EU standards – this includes the mobile phone network and industry, port and shipping activity, and much more.
We end by wishing all listeners and our members and supporters in particular a Happy New Year!
