BRIGHTON GROUP
Please note:
THE NEXT BRIGHTON SAS MEETING, SCHEDULED FOR 2ND DECEMBER, IS
CANCELLED BECAUSE OF THE PARTY ON THE 9TH.
This major victory comes three months after the announcement of
Southern Water's plan to only put in chemically assisted primary
treatment at the Portobello works in Telscombe, we have won a number
of important battles on different fronts.
the overwhelming majority of local people at public meetings in
Peacehaven and Telscombe want secondary and UV treatment and
Peacehaven Town Council and Lewes District Council have also called
for it. We have had extensive local media coverage on the radio and
in the press, including the water industry's newspaper "Utility
Week".
after lobbying by Brighton SAS, local MPs pledged to fight
Southern Water's plan and we have also been getting positive signals
from Michael Meacher, the Minister for the Environment.
confirmation that secondary treatment was included in calculations
of water rate increases as far back as 1995 and that adding UV to
secondary treatment would only cost about 1.5m. On 5th November
Scottish Power announced big half year profits of 240m - 122m of
which came from Southern Water - enough to pay for 82 UV plants at
Portobello.
Southern Water have said at public meetings that they have not
ruled out UV.
The next battles are likely to be fought over the planning
application to East Sussex County Council and with the Government,
which we will ask to decide what type of sewage treatment should be
put in.
A lot of the credit for winning these battles is because of you - the
letters you have written to councillors and MPs, the Vic the Virus
postcards sent to the Environment Agency and East Sussex County
Council and the collection of names on petitions. Chris Hines has
also been doing extensive work at national level and in meetings with
Southern Water's Chief Executive.
So far, Southern Water and the local Environment Agency have lost
credibility in their handling of the proposal. SAS has made it quite
clear that we are not giving up the fight until we get UV and we are
extremely encouraged by the messages of support we are getting from
the people at the top - Ministers and the top Environment Agency
people.
However, we cannot be complacent - an imminent Southern Water
announcement that they are committed to put in UV sooner rather than
later is as likely as turkeys voting for Christmas, despite the
massive public relations success it would be for them and how much
easier it would make their planning for the scheme.
This could be our finest hour and we are looking forward to VUV Day
sometime early next century!
More Vic the Virus postcards - this time Vic will be featured in a
new postcard, aimed at the government. You will be sent some, please
post them off. If you need more, call Richard Gregory on 670153.
Write to Bob Wilkins, Director of Transport and Environment, ESCC,
Southover House, Southover Road, Lewes BN7 1YA, pointing out that the
amenity, public health and boost for tourism are relevant planning
issues and that UV will guarantee maximum advantage to the
County.
A demo at the Department of the Environment, Transport and the
Regions in London with our new Vic the Virus costume (designed and
made by Izzy Charman) - hitsquad get ready!
Saturday stall outside the Peace and Environment Centre in Sydney
Street on 6th December - volunteers wanted - even if you can only
make it for an hour - ring Andrew on 570261.
Thanks to pressure exerted by us, copies of Southern Water's
discharge consent application for the Portobello are now available
for public viewing at the Council's Information and Advice Centres at
Bartholomew Square and the the Town Hall, Hove. It includes some
details of the proposals. Well done to Brighton and Hove Council for
getting it into the town, at last.
Another positive spin-off from the Portobello war has been that the
Environment Agency are to start testing the seawater at Peacehaven
next year. This will enable them to do a "before and after" study of
the effect of Southern Water's proposals, but it will also help us in
our campaign to get Peacehaven designated as a bathing beach.
Get your boardshorts and bikinis out of their mothballs for the
ploptastic SAS Xmas party in Brighton. It's happening at Gemini's
Beach Bar on Tuesday, December 9th from 8pm to 11pm, and then The
Event in West Street till 2am. There will be incredibly 2 for 1 beer
and cheap shots, top toons and much silliness. Admission is a mere 4
which will also get you into The Event for a quid. You are strongly
advised to buy tickets in advance as we are expecting a sell out.
Tickets are on sale from Oceansports and Gemini's. Beachwear,
rubberwear (including wetsuits!!) and fancy dress are strongly
recommended. An SAS T shirt will be given to the man and woman who,
in the opinion of a panel of totally bribeable judges, dress the most
outrageously. All proceeds go to our local and national campaigning
(we don't have 122m to play with). For more details, contact the
local hero whose organised it: Mark Elliott on 724929.
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Don't you just hate it when you overhear someone talking about
surfing, and it turns out to be some anorak wittering (east or
west??) on about the Internet? Well if you can't beat them, join
them. Brighton SAS now has its own website at:
www.scip.org.uk/surfers.
Muchas gracias to Mark Walker at the Sussex Community Internet
Project for setting it up. We need a someone to donate a modem to us
and a volunteer to update it regularly (once a fortnight or monthly),
create links with other relevant websites and put our press releases
on it - internet training can be provided.
Ring 570261 if you can help. Whilst nerding the net, don't forget to
visit the main SAS site at www.sas.org.uk. The Environment Agency
website contains bathing water quality results for 1996 -
www.environment-agency.gov.uk.
One of the most effective ways of ensuring that pressure is
maintained on the powers that be for clean beaches and bathing water
is to hassle them, like a dog with a bone.
Pollution in the sea:
Environment Agency: 0800 807060 (freephone)
Pollution on the beach: Brighton and Hove Council: 292081
Lewes District Council: 471600
Nearly three years late and overbudget, the Stormwater tunnel is at
last operating. Contrary to Southern Water and Brighton Council's
publicity, it is not the answer to Brighton's sewage problems - the
sewage is stored up and transferred to Portobello where it is
discharged without treatment to remove the bugs that make people ill.
Assuming it costs 40m, Southern Water could have earned as much as
6.6m in interest since 1995, when it was supposed to open. The water
industry's regulators, the Environment Agency and OFWAT, should
ensure that this money is spent on UV treatment (it could pay for
four plants at the Portobello), with the remainder given back to
local water charge payers as they have shown no inclination to
penalise Southern Water so far.
No, it's not about the reports of Andrew's cross-dressing antics at
the Dance Parade or the SAS Ball, but an appearance on Wise Up! -
Channel 4's teenagers' rant which will go out at 10.15am on Sunday 23
November (probably). It's stick the boot into Southern Water time
(again), as the TV crew invade their HQ, interview Andrew on Brighton
Beach and speak to Michael Meacher.
Anyone experiencing the crunchy conditions at Custard Point on
Saturday 8th November may have seen Meridian filming a piece due to
be shown on their early evening news programme (assuming a cat is n't
stuck up a tree in Southampton) on 14th November. They were well
chuffed with the prowess of the assembled shredders and Mike Kinski
(Southern Water's Head Honcho) was grilled by the reporter.
If you are an SAS member (and if not, why not?) then don't forget to
buy your raffle tickets and send the stubs and dosh back to the SAS
office by 9th December - you might win a Carribean holiday, mountain
bike or other goodies and thereby save yourself a wedge on Xmas (or
winter solstice for you pagans out there) presents. They will also be
on sale at local surfshops and at the Party on 9th December.
Alternatively, excellent value stocking fillers are Paddle Round the
Pier photos available at 12. Ring Vince Ward on 550568 if you need
more raffle tickets.
No, not a Raglan discovered in Peacehaven, but your chance to emulate
Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze by leaping out of a plane, thereby
experiencing the biggest drop this side of that secret spot just
outside ******* (censored - ed). You'll be raising money for SAS and
be given a parachute and a nappy (Bag it, Bin it, Just Don't Flush
it). It's happening in Kent in February and being organised by Dave
Samuel. Ring him on 820470 to book your place.
NEXT MEETING, SCHEDULED FOR 2ND DECEMBER, IS CANCELLED BECAUSE OF THE
PARTY ON THE 9TH.
Due to circumstances beyond our control, we will no longer be meeting
at Hove Lagoon Watersports Centre. Thanks very much to Harvey and
Wayne for the use of their facilities over the last year, and we look
forward to their continued support for our campaign. The new venue
will be announced in the next newsletter.
Brighton SAS Officers are: Andrew Coleman (570261), David Samuel
(820470), Peter Larcombe and Richard Hardy (0181.556.4393).
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Legal Note: These views are not necessarily those of Surfers
Against Sewage (but probably are!)
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September 1997