Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) is delighted to announce that after its crucial intervention with E.ON, the Rampion offshore wind farm developers, potentially catastrophic damage to local surfing waves has now been averted.
E.ON initially identified a potential reduction in wave height of up to 22% for surfing beaches in and around Brighton as a result of the planned renewable energy development. This would have been a major blow to the substantial local surf community and important related economy. However, thanks to vital discussions between SAS, E.ON and leading local surfers and surfing-related businesses, the developers have reassessed their plans to minimise... Read more
Surfers Against Sewage Highlight Waveriders Concerns At All Energy 2011 Conference
Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) ensured the UK’s waveriding community was represented at the UK’s largest renewables event, All-Energy 2011. The campaigners were decked out in fluorescent wetsuits and with 9ft luminous pink and yellow surfboards. Campaigners greeted delegates with two groundbreaking SAS reports outlining the potential impacts that wave and tidal energy devices may have if sited too close to sites of special surfing interest (SSSIs).
The flamboyant fluorescent campaigners thrust SAS’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) guidance and WAR report into the hands of delegates as they entered the conference, whilst... Read more
Marine Planning, The Journey Starts Here
What is marine planning? We see it as a fantastic opportunity to get surf and water sports areas recognised, designated and protected for generations to come.
Marine planning in its simplest form will be a marine version of our land based planning systems. Sounds obvious don’t it. But it might surprise you to learn the marine environment is nautical miles behind the land based planning systems. But the good news is, SAS is involved from the very start. The newly formed Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is responsible for developing marine plans for the entire UK waters.... Read more
Clean water campaigners Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) re-enacted the iconic Kitchener recruitment poster to enlist surfers, waveriders and coastal users into the Marine Management Organisation’s (MMO) new Marine Planning programme. Our surfing Kitchener stood on the frontline for SAS at the first Marine Planning workshop on the 12th of January in Peterborough.
The workshops will produce a statement of public participation (SPP), outlining exactly how and when surfers, waveriders and coastal users can best engage with the Marine Planning process. Once the mechanisms and methods for engagement are in place SAS will be recruiting the entire coastal community at the key... Read more
Clean water campaigners Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) warn the water industry there’s more to be concerned about than celebrate. Today Defra will release the 2010 bathing season results for the UK and both water companies and Government agencies will be quick to boast about an increase in beaches attaining the guideline standards. Whilst trying their hardest to divert attention away from 16 beaches failing the 34 year old, inadequate and outdated water quality standards and a reduction in beaches failing to attain the bare minimum mandatory standards.
SAS are urging the water industry not to believe their own press. Their achievements... Read more
Clean water campaigners Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) were on hand to greet delegates at the 4th European Water and Wastewater Management Conference in Leeds, with direct reminders that turning Ultra Violet (UV) sewage treatment systems off outside the bathing season dramatically increases the health risk to surfers and waveriders. The surfers, in wetsuits and carrying surfboards emblazoned with illuminous “UV” letters handed out cards reminding the delegates of their obligations to protect water users all year round.
After a successful campaign against Northumbrian Water in 2008 SAS have helped set a precedent. Where there is a presence of water users, year... Read more
It Never Rains But It Pours For Scottish Bathing Waters
Clean water campaigners Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) are frustrated with yet another year’s shocking bathing water results for Scotland. During the course of the 2010 Scottish bathing season 13 beaches recorded single sample failures with 4 beaches failing outright to reach bathing water standards that are 34 years old and that will soon be superseded by more stringent standards. A double whammy of bad news for Scottish water users sees Scottish Water turn off their tertiary sewage treatment at Pease Bay, increasing the health risk for surfing at one of Scotland’s... Read more
Clean water campaigners Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) are calling for 34 British beaches to be stripped of their Blue Flag status. SAS have uncovered information revealing these beaches can not meet the strict standards requiring public warnings after sewage discharges set by the international body responsible for the Blue Flag programme. SAS flew their Brown Flag at Whitburn beach in the North East. Whitburn has a Blue Flag but yet the European Commission (EC) is taking the UK to the European Court of Justice for "too frequent" and "excessive" spills from storm water overflows at Whitburn.
English Blue Flags not meeting the... Read more
Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) landed on Fistral beach in Newquay with 2 tanks and smoking flares to mark the release their ground breaking WAR Report. The WAR report clearly highlights why Waves Are Resources and, as such, should be recognised as valuable assets, protected for this and future generations. The WAR Report not only focuses on the intrinsic value of waves to surfers but also the economic value to the wider community. Today is also the first day of the Relentless Boardmasters, the UK’s largest surfing competition. The Boardmasters is obviously solely dependent on the waves and the event bring £1,700,000 into... Read more
Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) and four of the UK’s best Stand Up Paddle-boarders aim to cross the English Channel and set two new Guinness world records in one go, with a relay team and a solo paddler taking on the challenge. The SAS 2010 Challenge will launch on the day with optimum conditions, during the week of the 18th – 25th of June.
Launching from either Shakespeare’s Bay or Sapphire Hoe the champion paddlers will be aiming to raise £10,000 for SAS’s campaigns, celebrate the organisations 20th anniversary and mark International Surfing Day (double check date20thof June). Success is a real... Read more
