Our constituency has two beautiful coasts, and some of the
best beaches in the country. Many people make their living, either directly or
indirectly, from the sea and many of us enjoy the coast in a number of
recreational ways. And of course the surfing community is one of the fastest
growing parts of our local life and economy.
Therefore, I was delighted, soon after my election just over
a year ago, to be elected as the chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group
“Protect our Waves”. The Protect Our
Waves APPG was launched in October 2014 and looks to give a voice to the
surfing community and other sea users to address the most urgent environmental
issues highlighted by the Protect Our Waves petition, namely marine litter,
recreational bathing water quality and coastal development.
Last week in Westminster I chaired the group’s latest
meeting which focused on water quality and the impact of combined sewer
overflows (CSOs). Approximately 70% of the UK’s sewers are
combined, meaning they take sewage and grey water from homes and businesses as
well as rainwater runoff from hard surfaces such as roads and roofs. This is a
major issue here in Cornwall when during periods of heavy rain these combined
sewers regularly reach maximum capacity and water companies are forced to
discharge a mixture of untreated sewage and stormwater directly into the sea.
During the meeting we heard first-hand from Cornish charity
Surfers Against Sewage, experts
representing the scientific community, the shellfish industry, the water sports
sector and from a young water user who recently fell seriously ill after
bathing in contaminated water. Each presenter
gave a compelling account of the need for tighter regulations governing
combined sewer overflows.
I am
pleased that after hearing this evidence, the Protect Our Waves APPG decided to
support Surfers Against Sewage and the Sewage Free Seas call for strict legal
limits of a maximum of 3 spills from sewage systems into bathing water per
bathing season and no more than 10 annually impacting any single body of bathing water. We will be writing to
the Environment Agency, urging them to take action.
The account given by a thirteen-year-old surfer from
Perranporth was particularly powerful.
She described the severe sickness that she experienced as a result of
surfing in the sea shortly after a CSO.
Sewage is a local issue; the sewage that is discharged into the sea
around Cornwall, comes from Cornish sewers.
So we all have a part to play to protect our waves. As the
holiday season gets into full swing this half term, I urge you to consider the
“Think before you flush” campaign. In 2014 Sewage Related Debris
was thought to be responsible for 253,000 blockages in the UK’s sewer system
leading to clean up costs in excess of £80 million. Your actions can help to protect the sewerage
infrastructure, sewage system capacity and the marine environment from
sewage & plastic pollution.
As always, my team
and I are here to serve the whole constituency and seek to make a real
difference to the lives of everyone who needs help and support in any way. If there is any issue that we can help you
with then please contact us on either 01726 829379 or on office@stevedouble.org.uk.
