ESG Press Release August 4th 2011

IMPORTANT BATHING WATER INFO

The ESG has been following the issue of sea pollution for some time now concerned about sewage and other forms of marine pollution. Since late 2010, the issue of sewage pollution mainly originating from Spain has given serious concern to both the public and the authorities and this has highlighted major difficulties of sewage management issues in our neighbouring La Linea town. Much has been published on this matter and the Gibraltar Government has taken various measures to increase monitoring and provide more information to the public. The ESG continues to receive calls from concerned citizens about the safety of bathing off our beaches. Due to the worsening of sewage issues in La Linea the real risk to our beaches continues and so we do advise people to remain vigilant. The Env Agency website carries some data but the ESG is assured that this will be increased soon to provide more accurate information to enable the public to make a choice over where they will swim.

A further bit of information which should be of interest to the public is the publication of “beach profiles” on all our beaches which can be found at the Dept of Environment website (see below for links) which gives a detailed profile on the physical properties of every local beach as well as facilities and pollution risks. It surprises the ESG that this information is not found on the Environmental Agency website where most people are directed to visit for information on bathing water quality but nevertheless is impressed with the quality of the information provided. The group believes this will interest many and urge the public to visit links below.

http://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/images/stories/PDF/environment/Beach%20profiles/Catalan_Bay_Bathing_water_profile.pdf

http://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/images/stories/PDF/environment/Beach%20profiles/Camp_Bay_bathing_water_profile.pdf

http://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/images/stories/PDF/environment/Beach%20profiles/Eastern_Beach_Bathing_Water_profile.pdf

http://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/images/stories/PDF/environment/Beach%20profiles/Little_Bay_Bathing_water_profile.pdf

http://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/images/stories/PDF/environment/Beach%20profiles/Sandy_Bay_Bathing_water_profile.pdf

http://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/images/stories/PDF/environment/Beach%20profiles/Western_beach_bathing_water_profile.pdf

Hello, today’s newsletter will focus on a number of different issues which we hope you will find of interest.

To begin with news that the Gib Govt is planning to purchase additional generating capacity for our electricity needs is met with concern from several ESG members. Although we were assured by Govt at the turn of this year that the new replacement power station project was underway and would be in place with no further delays, there is no change whatsoever in the present situation to suggest any progress. No ground has been broken and at a key opportunity to demonstrate Govts commitment to proceed and introduce a state of the art replacement power station, we are told, via house proceedings that the project will take between 12 to 24 months with no date of commencement or completion offered. We do not understand why this is the case. Govt needs to realise that the impacts from the three aging stations are dreadful in terms of quality of life for hundreds if not thousands of residents with offending smells and incessant noise levels and the very real risk these pose to health with air emissions proven to cause a variety of health ailments ranging from minor to severe. We need action and we need this now.

Another topic of current interest is the recent launch of the Urban Bike Scheme; a project with many green credentials, which surprisingly, has not rec’d much public reaction. Most of the comments we have rec’d have been of concerns of safety given that our road infrastructure is not planned to be adapted to be used by a considerable increase in bicycle numbers. We do believe that some changes are necessary and have outlined these in our Wish List under Traffic issues. Please refer to this paper on our website. www.esg-gib.net .

Another development of interest and concern to those who care about our natural environment is news from Spanish env. groups of the threat of development of one of the remaining woodlands across the border to us which is often referred to as the military zone – this area provides one of the last green corridors from Alcornocales National Park to the coast and must be protected. The link to a petition against any development in this area and background information can be found on our website and we urge as many people as possible to please sign this.

CUTW programme is now underway with people signing up and plans being laid for the seventh participation by the Gibraltar community. On the negative side, recent marine and field surveys have shown that serious littering and dumping issues continue in out of the way places and so we know we shall have our hands full once again this year.

You can help us clean our homeland and beautiful coastal environment by calling 200-48996 or mobile 54960000. Also email details through to esg@gibtelecom.net and we shall get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you.
Related to CUTW this year is a brand new workshop being held in conjunction with the Summer Sports Programme at the Sports Complex. One of our colleagues is holding Green Workshops with young children focusing on creativity and learning about our world and need to look after it. With this year’s CUTW theme being: “Our Place, Our Planet, Our Responsibility”, the workshop aims to promote these important aims while at the same time providing an enjoyable and creative experience. There is still time to enrol your child by contacting Anna Maza on 54024321. You can also email details to: ania.maza@gmail.com
A reminder to all CUTW team leaders that we shall be holding our first key planning meeting in early August. Details will be sent to all teams.
One quick word to those listening with concerns of ongoing air pollution or sewage at sea is that the Environmental Agency has now set up an answering service to direct callers to appropriate numbers outside of office hours. The number to call is 200-70620.
That’s it for now. Thanks for listening.

ESG Radio Broadcast 7th July 2011
Hello,
Since our last broadcast several environmental developments have taken place so we’ll do our best to highlight those of particular interest:-

1) With summer upon us and most of us outdoors much of the time, our physical environment and its health, is never more apparent than at present. Therefore issues of sewage, pollution from power stations and bunkering, dust and rubble on our beaches, traffic and noise pollution come to the fore as we receive numerous calls from local residents wondering why we continue to suffer from these problems.

These problems are actually present all year round and is why the ESG fights its corner as we do to press for change. However as long as highly ranked politicians consider the environment to be a single issue matter, nothing radical is going to change. This is what we, as a community, must address.

2)The ESG is working hard and in discussion with all political parties pushing for action on these issues. Our comprehensive Wish List has been tabled with all parties and we hope is now adding to the discussions we are hearing in the hot house of political debate taking place this week. It does take considerable energy and political will to implement changes at the core of many of our decision making centres to redress the balance of progress and financial stability with improving our physical environment, and therefore quality of life. Projects like the new power station, sewage plant, and a long hard look at the impacts from bunkering and other oil related industry therefore critical.

3)Gibraltar continues to wait to hear results of the investigations into the tank fire – how long will this take the ESG asks? In the meantime we hear fragments of information here and there about future plans for the area surrounding the tanks site and hope that Govt will issue a full and detailed report of its thinking on this matter so that the public is informed before major decisions are taken.

The fire was a major incident and reflected poor decision making and poor regulation. The community deserves to know what Govt understands happened and how it is ensuring that accidents of this type will never recur. We are entitled to such information Under the Freedom of Access to Env Information and simply, because anything that happens in Gibraltar affects us all.

4) Another eyebrow raising moment was the recent announcement by CEPSA management of the investment it is making at its San Roque plant to radically lower pollution levels – pollution levels by the way, it has NEVER EVER admitted to produce in the first place.

These toxic emissions are carcinogenic and cause all manner of disease and one has to ask what compensation is morally owing to communities who continue to pay the price of this industry’s growing expansion and profits with their health and many, even, with their lives.

5) CUTW 2011 is now 10 weeks away! It’s official!! Today CUTW Australian Director Ian Kiernan sent a message to members throughout the world reminding us that it’s only through community involvement at a local level that global changes can be made. If local communities value a healthy environment and conserve its biodiversity exercising civic pride, then success is only a matter of time.

We therefore will invest considerable energy over the next two months to ensure Gibraltar benefits from this important campaign and hope to get your support too!

Plse contact us at on tel: 200-48996 or email us on: esg@gibtelecom.net . Donations also welcome. Thank you.

Gibraltar’s Insight Magazine will run CUTW related articles over the next two months with information and detailed analysis of the issues concerned so make sure you pick up a copy!

Education/Information/Facilities and Enforcement being key to a cleaner Gibraltar.

6) Some inspiring news for you is the length some of us will go to to protect natures incredible wildlife with the story of two regular blokes from the UK, Chris and Adam, who two days ago swam 26 miles non-stop across the Strait and back, to raise awareness globally of the need to stop illegal whale hunting and killing of dolphins through pollution and intensive fishing practices.

We hope you will be hearing directly from the swimmers themselves today whose motivation is to raise funds for the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society that actively carry out invaluable work to conserve these magnificent creatures.

Please therefore, take a moment and go to: http://www.justgiving.com/Swim4Whales. Any donation, large or small will be gratefully rec’d recognising the mammoth effort made by these impressive individuals.

We leave now with our message to: Stay in touch, enjoy your summer and use the bins – and if you can’t find one, take it home!!

Thanks for listening!

Joint statement by ESG, Beach Users and Canoeists
10th June 2011

The ESG, Beach Users and Canoeists have today issued a joint reaction to Govts statement on the decision to re-open Western Beach this weekend. We met with Minister Britto and his technical team today and presented our many concerns which were heard and discussed at length. While Government is clearly stepping up its monitoring and management of public use of Western Beach, which is very welcome, we continue to believe that its opening is premature.

“We remain concerned that the dreadful sewage pollution which has affected Western Beach for the past 10 months or so, could return, albeit at a lower level, but unpredictably and therefore continues to present a public health risk.”

Specifically:

a) The unpredictability of the water quality
b) The time lag between testing and available data
c) The public health threat posed by erratic dumping of sewage and lack of local control
d) The difficulty of preventing bathing during high levels of sewage pollution could lead to possibility of people contracting infections from contaminated water
e) The gap between guide and mandatory levels of sewage allowed to be legally present under EU law before banning bathing is huge and that we could well fall just under mandatory levels and be exposed to high amounts of sewage contamination
f) The current ban on bathing if sewage levels are a problem would still allow the beach to be used making bathing almost inevitable on very hot long summer days, in spite of the ban in place
g) Health information risks to the public and especially to parents of young children should be clearly displayed at the beach near the colour coded board
h) All efforts should be applied to identify as close to an “on the spot tester” to determine the water quality at any given time
i) Showers should be installed at the Beach (or just outside it)- to facilitate rinsing off sea water
j) By using the beach the La Linea Ayuntamiento could slow down any permanent solutions to solving its sewage crisis
k) Brussels efforts to press for such a permanent solution could be weakened by the re-opening the beach
l) Gibraltar should make progress with its sewage treatment plant as should all Bay towns as further underlined by the worsening state of the bathing water quality around Gibraltar and nearby coastline in 2010/2011

ESG Radio Broadcast 13^th May 2011

• Today’s radio broadcast will focus on four separate issues:

The first is to refer you to this week’s publication of an exciting new report issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, otherwise known as the IPCC. The reports authors underline the significant future role in cutting greenhouse gas emissions and powering sustainable development using existing renewable energy technologies. A global team of technological experts and scientists studied over 160 scenarios using the potential of six separate renewable energy technologies and the details of their assessments are contained in a thousand page report, the link of which will be posted on the ESG website: www.esg-gib.net.

In a world where nuclear energy is being pressed forward as the energy of choice to combat climate change, this report is very timely offering in-depth technical and socio economic analysis.  Anyone interested in learning about the actual viability of renewable energy, as opposed to arguments pushed forward by vested interests, will find this new report of great interest. You may be interested to know that the energies being considered by the IPCC are:

Bio energy, direct solar energy, geothermal energy, hydropower, ocean energy and wind energy

• The second area of focus is our very own wish list for parties standing for local elections. A very comprehensive 5 page list of measures we believe could greatly enhance both our quality of life and our environment will be published on our website this weekend and sent to our local press as well as directly to all parties over the next few days. The ESG has produced two previous wish lists, our first, in 2003, calling for an environmental policy to be declared by all parties. We believe we have come a long way in achieving the necessary awareness, of course, aided by the evolution of environmental legislation from Europe. However, Gibraltar is unique in many ways, not least in environmental matters and we believe we must go over and above legal limits and requirements in order to safe guard our environment and our families. Measures covered in our wish list address: climate change, energy, pollution, traffic, recycling, bunkering, sewage treatment, conservation, planning, Govts own Env Action and Management Plan, Cross Border issues and Epid Studies. 

Watch out for our 2011 wish list and proposed measures!!

• Getting down to very specific issues, bunkering fumes and other pollution continues to affect the community and the ESG is taking up this issue most vigorously on behalf of all complainants with the relevant agencies and ministries. We repeat our call for the public to report problems as they are occurring especially regarding bunkering related fumes- number to call is 56001652, for other sources you should call 200-70620 during office hours, or 200-72500 and ask for the Environmental officer on Duty.   Please also inform the ESG of your reports as you make them.
• Finally, we shall be issuing a press release shortly on the Public Health Conference which took place last weekend in Algeciras.  It is always extremely beneficial to listen to Professor Benach share his views and understanding on matters of public health, especially of his concerns about the state of health of communities in the Spanish bay towns. Mr Benach has begun assessing our own Epid Study and we now await a full report which we know will bring his global expertise to better understanding our own problems and needs more fully.

 

We look ahead to our next broadcast where we shall share some more news on our environment.   Thanks for listening.

 

May 2011

For the past decade the ESG has campaigned locally, regionally, and at European and global level for a healthy environment pressing for environmental policies to be matched by investment and political will.[1] The following, if adequately addressed, would go a long way towards making the necessary environmental improvements in Gibraltar:

ON CLIMATE CHANGE

a) Climate Change Forum to present biannual reports at public meetings to encourage community engagement, participation and awareness of the single most important issue facing humanity today;

b) NGO participation important – climate change affects everyone and should be cross party and include interested stakeholders such as environmental NGO’s;

c) This “Think Tank” should look at Gibraltar’s long term sustainability with regards to energy, water, and food, and map out alternative strategies for future secure provision of our basic needs. In the full knowledge that Climate Change and its impacts will have devastating consequences for future generations, it is essential that we take responsibility by launching a well funded research programme and plan of action and not simply expect others to “deal with this” at some future time!

ENERGY

a) Renewable Energy projects to be launched with short and long-term targets. Modern Power Station using diesel engines could be modified to use biofuel (such as olive oil from Europe, generated as a by product, available regionally) enabling Gibraltar to comply in time with EU Directives.

b) Meanwhile a sustained programme is needed to modify our grid to allow selling of electricity to the Electricity Authority by private micro generation of electricity. (Solar Water Heating, Photovoltaics, Photovoltaic roof tiles, Micro Wind Turbines, etc.) ;

c) Government Grants to be set up to encourage approved micro systems for renewable energy for the householder;

d) Project to reduce our energy use for example only allowing the higher efficiency household items to be imported or highly taxing the less efficient items; (“A” classification items for energy consumption being the best) banning of importation of incandescent light bulbs; replacement of all street lighting for high efficiency LED’s or similar;

e) While some reports on renewable energy feasibility for Gibraltar are already available (see MoD report 2005 – contact ESG for info) fresh research and focus into how best to harness energy from the multiple sources open to us needs to be set up with no further delay and for this to be done openly inviting ideas and resources from interested stakeholders;

f) Gibraltar-wide study to be conducted to assess energy efficiency and consumption to limit unnecessary or wasteful practices;

g) Vigorously pursue other Govt own stated objectives as set out under its Environmental and Action Management Plan;

 

POLLUTION

a) It’s important that our three ageing power stations are closed once the new replacement station is built within the expected deadline of end 2012. This would allow us to comply with EU directives on air quality and substantially elevate the quality of life in residential areas around these power stations;

b) It is essential to place strict environmental controls on all polluting industry in Gibraltar to eliminate effects beyond the fence line e.g. oil treatment, desalination, dockyard, cement factories, refuse storage and transport, petrol stations, etc. Mitigating technologies exist and Government and the private sector should be directed to invest in environmental protection equipment and practice regardless of whether legally required. The absence of safe buffer zones due to our size demands that we do not only settle for compliance on environmental protection standards as do larger countries. It is after all, our own community and hence our own families we are trying to protect;

c) Ensure the Precautionary Principle is a key factor when assessing impacts and mitigating needs of all industry related activity;

d) Re-invent the Environment Agency to be target driven and results orientated with a mission to make Gibraltar as pollution free as possible. For this agency to become autonomous and independently enforce environmental and public health laws;

e) Such targets to include the systematic application of BAT (Best Available Technology) in all industry;

TRAFFIC

a) Traffic reduction measures and schemes and new low emission public transport targets to be actively developed;

b) Free Bus Service for local residents to be introduced without further delay;

c) Incentives for low emission vehicles over heavily polluting ones to be applied (reward and penalising schemes);

d) Control and eventual elimination of two-stroke motorbikes as these produce high levels of air and noise pollution;

e) While welcome to see cycling encouraged on our roads, this cannot take place without accompanying rules and safety guidelines: Cycle lanes to be included in new roads/Warning Signs for motor vehicle drivers to be aware of cyclists/Cyclists to adhere to safe road use- e.g. set up road signs targeting cyclists-indicate, respect lights, etc.

f) Road surfaces to be maintained year round as pot holes pose a serious danger to cyclists and motorbike riders, raising risk of accident and collision with cars;

g) Increase road safety by creating more pavements to encourage walking

g) Consideration of feedback from public consultation exercise on Govt Transport Plan namely ESG’s and ITWMC among others;

RECYCLING

 

a) Recycling of all our refuse – sustained public awareness and enforcement campaign;

b) Enforcement of litter and fly tipping laws;

c) Creation of a dedicated Eco Park to reduce fly tipping and waste piles (eye sores);

d) Netting enclosure at City Dump to limit spread of lightweight waste onto our roads and green cliffs;

e) Facilities to be provided at the City Dump to receive paper, plastic and cardboard waste for onward recycling which at present goes to landfill;

f) Development and promotion of Govt Recycling Policy to ensure that all high waste producers of glass and cans use the recycling services available today. (This to include schools, hospitals, clubs, bars and restaurants);

 

BUNKERING

 

a) Freeze and controls imposed on Bunkering activities to include vapour recovery;

b) Disallow East Side Bunkering as this will increase air pollution problems as well as significantly raise the risks of a serious oil spill with devastating implications for humans, marine and bird life and our economy;

c) Full disclosure of income evaluation of bunkering and port activity to the public purse, taking into account the degrading impacts this has on quality of life and marine environment, as well as to our tourist product which is sustainable and critically important to our economy;

d) Elimination of floating petrol stations;

e) In setting up land based fuel storage alternative, this to be done to the highest standards and using BATS, including full public consultation during planning and construction process. Commercial sensitivities should not be used to withhold information on new, polluting activity;

SEWAGE TREATMENT

a)Sewage treatment plant to be installed without further delays to eliminate raw sewage disposal to the sea (and if it can be done anaeorobically/ eliminating smells and producing methane as a by product for energy production, all the better);

 

 

CONSERVATION

a) Expansion of Nature Reserve to include East side sand slopes down to the sea joining it up with marine protected area. (To protect the last bit of natural coastline remaining in Gibraltar);

b) Major expansion of urban tree numbers and major creation/expansion and up keep of urban green areas;

c) Due consideration of key areas and recommendations as factored in the Upper Rock Management Plan produced by the GONHS

d) Upper Rock Authority announced some time back needs re-launching and should include active participation from relevant stakeholders, public discussion and participation in the decision making process;

PLANNING

 

a) Complete overhaul of Planning Procedure in Gibraltar;

b) DPC to have a neutral chair, to be open and transparent with public consultation on all major projects;

c) EIA’s to include consideration of the existing environment on new development projects as well as impacts from new projects on the environment;

d) All major projects, including Govt, to undergo EIA’s given the limitations of land space in Gibraltar and need for best assessment ahead of breaking ground;

e) Adherence to Best Practice in planning to be applied to all Planning Procedures in Gibraltar;

f) Recommendations made under the Strategic Environmental Plan released alongside Gibraltar’s’ Development Plan to be given open and serious consideration: Most importantly Gibraltar must consider setting limits on levels of development, traffic and pollution to safeguard quality of life;

g) Gib Dev Plan “green measures” and check-list to be actively applied and reviewed;

h) Green Building Legislation to be vigorously adhered to as well as developed to retrospectively tackle recent and major new development for improvements in environmental performance;

 

 

EAMP (Environmental and Action Management Plan)-

 

a) Urgent Govt wide implementation of its Environmental and Action Management Plan (EAMP –which nevertheless needs improving/expanding to address dockyard and bunkering as well as other impacting  activities on the Rock omitted from the Plan[2]);

b) EAMP to permeate all Ministries and Departments, Agencies and others to ensure that all decisions reflect genuine environmental considerations as well as economic and technical factors;

c) EAMP public presentation overdue and anticipated;

 

 

 

 

 

CROSS BORDER ISSUES

 

a)      The cross border nature of the Bay’s environment means that achieving progress in environmental issues is often hampered by political issues, even though the solutions require cross border co-operation. Such pressures are once again evident in the impasse facing the Tripartite Process; a dialogue, that for a while, appeared to provide a workable model for co-operation at many levels including the environment.

b)       A detailed appraisal on key environmental issues was produced by the three Govts involved (Spain, Gibraltar and United Kingdom), pledging to get to grips with cross border issues. A practical and technical approach was being designed at a cross border level that could provide technical and practical support and response to real problems and issues affecting people and the environment.

c)      A group of 5 NGO’s from Gibraltar and Spain[3] have submitted three dossiers to the Tripartite Forum outlining critical regional environmental issues with potential solutions.   

Issues include:-

● pollution ● health ● land reclamation ● urbanisation ● loss of green spaces & biosphere,

● sewage treatment ● industrial expansion ● maritime activity

d)      Environmental NGO’s have also lobbied and secured their participation within the technical assessments under the Tripartite Process. This, however, has not yet taken place due to the indefinite stalling of the Tripartite Talks themselves. We hope the Government of Gibraltar will continue to seek co-operation at cross border level for environmental and health issues which are urgent in nature with a resumption of the working groups meeting under the Tripartite Forum.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES:

a)      One of the key and urgent areas to be considered is the true state of public health of Bay communities given their long term and chronic exposure to toxic emissions from poorly regulated heavy industry and the Oil Refinery based in the Spanish town of San Roque. Gibraltar’s first independently commissioned epidemiological study for the Gib population is an important first step but one that needs to be followed by further study to fully understand the state of our health, and the “potential” and “actual” impacts from environmental factors which most affect us including from local sources. Cross border studies are also necessary to gauge how the Bay environment impacts on the health of all Bay communities. The focus should then quickly move to bring all identified causes of ill- health and higher mortality in the area in line with best practice and best available technology within Europe with the aim of improving health prospects and quality of life.

b)      The ESG and our public health advisers consider more research is required as well as an expansion of the existing air monitoring programme in Gibraltar (also advised by the report issued on the 1^st Epid Study in January 2011).

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ESG Election Wish List

 

It is hoped this wish list will be considered by all parties standing for 2011 elections. The ESG strongly believes that implementation of these measures would bring enormous benefits to our community and quality of life; offer greater sustainability and improve Gibraltar’s environmental performance.

ESG Committee:    Contact J Howitt 54960000   H Pinna 200-78067   T Scott 58009259

 

Please visit ESG website which carries a rich record of 8 years worth of media releases, reports, photographs, videos, interviews and more:    

Website: www.esg-gib.net  Email: esg@gibtelecom.net  Tel: 200-48996    

---

[1] Locally via various campaigns, lobbying, negotiation, information/ Regionally via cross border coalitions/at a European level via MEPs’ and the European Commission/Globally via the Bucket Brigade and scientific sampling

[2] See ESG Website : http://www.esg-gib.net/esg-on-govt-action-plan-3-2-11/

[3] ESG, GONHS, Greenpeace, AGADEN and Verdemar

ESG Press Release 18^th May 2011

 

 The ESG has published an environmental wish list at every election that has taken place since the group was formed. For the upcoming election we have decided to once again put forward our key areas and recommended solutions on a 2011 Wish List in the hope that all parties standing for election will give this due consideration.

Headings which form part of our list include:  Climate Change, Energy, Pollution, Traffic, Recycling, Bunkering, Sewage Treatment, Conservation, Planning, EAMP, Cross Border issues and Epidemiological Studies.

The ESG has sent a copy of the wish list to all political parties and to the local media.

Should any party wish to meet with us to discuss these issues further we shall be only too pleased to accept.

ESG Committee May 2011

Please see below developments in Brussels thanks to MEP Graham Watson pursuing an urgent resolution to the sewage pollution at Western Beach. What follows is a statement Mr Watson’s office has issued to GBC today:-

Watson wants long-term solution to sewage problem- 03 May 2011

 

Gibraltar’s Liberal MEP Graham Watson has asked the European Commission to ensure that the building works being undertaken by authorities in La Linea provide a long-term solution to the problem of sewage on Western Beach.

The call comes after the La Linea authorities confirmed to a Spanish environmental group that works are now underway to alleviate the problem. The Environment Agency of Gibraltar indicates that pollution levels also appear to be improving.

However, campaigners in Gibraltar are concerned that improvements could be short-lived and that more substantial works may be needed.

Watson commented;

“I welcome the promising news from La Linea and the Environment Agency. However, with the holiday season now upon us, it is more important than ever that we reach a long-term solution to this very serious problem.”

 

In a letter sent to Watson last week, a Commission official explained that the complaint he raised on behalf of local environmental campaigners deserved ‘further clarification from the competent Spanish authorities’ and will be investigated under the EU Pilot Scheme.

Watson responded by passing on the concerns of Gibraltar’s Environmental Safety Group and asking the Commission to make the ‘swift and long-term resolution’ of the sewage problem a priority in these investigations.

Watson continued;

 

“I am committed to working with the European Commission and campaign groups to ensure the authorities in La Linea make the lasting changes that are needed to protect Western Beach and the wider environment for good. I have suggested to the Commission that this may even involve the construction of an outlet that flows several hundred metres from the shore.”

The Commission will inform Watson directly of any findings.

ENDS

Editors Notes

The EU Pilot project

The EU Pilot project has been operating since April 2008 with the aim of providing quicker and fuller answers to questions, and solutions to problems arising in the application of EU laws, requiring confirmation of the factual or legal position in a Member State.

Under EU Pilot an enquiry or complaint will be examined by the responsible service in the Commission and forwarded to the Member State authority concerned with any questions or indications identified by the Commission service.

A general 10 week deadline has been set for responses to be provided.

Hello-

In today’s broadcast we would like to draw attention to various environmental topics of interest.

Sewage at Western Beach – resolved?

Firstly, and, important to note that this is, you will forgive my saying so, a rather fluid situation….. ! On the day we received confirmation from our Spanish colleagues, AGADEN, that La Linea Ayuntamiento had confirmed it was actively dealing with the main source of Western Beach pollution, an ESG member also confirmed seeing road works in the area supporting this latest bit of news.

We obviously welcome this positive step but should add that even La Linea Ayuntamiento still claims that at times of heavy rainfall, sewage overflow will continue to discharge into the area. This leaves us in a bit of a conundrum. It means that until such time as the diversion is completely sealed off and piped to the treatment plant we risk recurring, haphazard, sewage matter entering Western Beach waters making this environment a difficult one to assess in terms of use and health and safety. We continue to monitor the situation and liaise with the Gibraltar Government and our MEPs in Brussels

World Earth Day 2011:

Yesterday saw a group of local environmental activists from the ESG and FoE Gibraltar hold an information and awareness stall at the Piazza. It proved to be of interest attracting a steady stream of visitors, new members signing up, and discussion of local environmental issues. It was encouraging to see young Gibraltarians concerned about the need to change local mentality with regards to environment, and how we ought to be giving these issues far more prominence than they currently receive; particularly in terms of harnessing renewable energy and controlling pollution levels.

Of course, the stall was held to mark the recent passing of World Earth Day which sees a lot of action throughout the globe. This year this exciting campaign is highlighting an ongoing objective of reaching a Billion Acts of Green, number so far is over 100 million and is made up of individuals pledging simple or complex acts to help our environment: whether by biking or bussing instead of driving, supporting environmental campaigns, or recycling more of your rubbish? We can all, together, make a difference. Why not visit Earthday.org and make that pledge today? Also visit our web site at esg-gib.net for current information on local campaigns. Get involved!

General:

The ESG will, of course, maintain our efforts to improve Gibraltar’s environment by continuing to highlight the areas which concern us. In this election year, we hope to have further opportunities of realising more of these goals which we shall share with you in detail in our next broadcast in two weeks time.

Public Health Conference:

To end, we know that many of you will be interested to hear that Professor Benach, whose research exposed the alarming clusters of cancers and higher mortality in the provinces of Seville, Huelva and Cadiz, will soon be addressing a special conference in the Bay alongside his colleagues from the University of Seville and Toronto. The ESG has been invited to attend and we shall of course publish any useful information on what transpires at what is likely to be a very interesting conference.

Thanks for listening

 

The ESG has received additional information from Algeciras colleagues, AGADEN, regarding the ongoing sewage pollution at Western Beach.  

Background:

A few months ago, and after the issue had been highlighted to the Spanish group by the ESG, a number of letters were sent by AGADEN to various Spanish authorities calling for action to clean up this waste.

 The response from La Junta explains how it has ordered La Linea Ayuntamiento to take all necessary steps to urgently eliminate further waste from being discharged into the sea and find an immediate solution to this problem. Current water sampling indicates this has not yet happened.

 The ESG hopes that this additional pressure from La Junta will produce results from the Ayuntamiento who recently said it would resolve the sewage problem by mid June. However, the ESG has not yet witnessed any activity to confirm that works have even begun. Both the ESG and beach users have received news from MEP Graham Watson’s office in Brussels that the Petition and Complaint are firmly in place and will remain so until such time as this issue is resolved.

 We shall continue to monitor the situation and invite members of the public to send in any information or photographs which may be helpful in resolving this problem.

 Please contact ESG 200-48996 or email: esg@gibtelecom.net  for further information