SAS DEMO - A STORMING SUCCESS!

The 1st November saw over 150 wetsuit-clad demonstrators descend upon the House of Commons for the biggest Demo ever in the history of pressure group Surfers Against Sewage. Water users from all over the country were united under the title the 'SAS Water Alliance' as they took their message - 'Everyone Needs Protecting', to MPs and the Government.

The turnout for the demo was fantastic despite the weather; which had severely affected transport networks throughout the UK. If there was any question in the mind of politicians about the strength of feeling surrounding the issue, the sheer number of people at the demo would have removed any doubt. 7 of the UK's top surfers were there to support SAS, along with representatives from water sports Governing Bodies and water users from a variety of water contact sports. Media were also present in abundance!
The demonstration was part of a new campaign drive to ensure that all water users, regardless of their sport, have access to clean, safe water. SAS are using the opportunity presented to them by the current revision of key water quality legislation underway in Europe.
The 1976 EC Bathing Water Directive is outdated and in need of a major overhaul and SAS were in London to lobby MP's and ensure that the voice of the UK's water users was heard.

In brief, SAS have three main proposals:
1. A broadening of the concept of 'bathing waters' to take into account those waters heavily utilised by citizens participating in water contact recreation.
2. One standard only and that standard must be adequate to protect public health.
3. More accessible information to enable the public to make an informed choice about which waters they use.

The demonstration was followed by a debate to which all MPs were invited. SAS also invited a representative from each political party to sit on the panel at the debate. Although the Conservative Party were unable to send a representative, both the Liberal Democrats and Labour took up the offer, with Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Chris Mullin MP representing the Government and Lib Dem Environment spokesperson, Tom Brake MP for the Lib Dems.

The Governments' official line in response to SAS' proposals is as follows:

On the issue of broadening the concept of 'bathing waters';
" We plan to consider a broadening of the concept of bathing waters to take into account those waters heavily utilised by citizens participating in water contact recreation in a positive manner. However, there are practical issues that will need to be overcome. These are for the European Commission to consider in the first instance. We are still many months away from receiving a new proposal from the Commission and we will not be able to say until we have closely examined whether it could reasonably be applied to waters other than those for bathing".

On the issue of a single standard;
" The Government is in favour of one standard that is adequate to protect public health. The dual standards in the present Directive confuse the public when they are considering what is "safe" bathing water to use. The public health standard should be the prime, if not the only, quality standard. The World Health Organisation is carrying out work which will inform the optimum standard".

On the issue of more accessible information;
"The Government are in favour of more accessible information to enable the public to make an informed choice about which waters they use".

On the whole SAS were pleased with the Government's response. It is now time to put some thought into how the issues of monitoring additional waters can be tackled. If the concept of 'bathing waters' is broadened this will obviously become an issue (cost and logistics). SAS will consider this over the next few months but hope that they will not be doing this in isolation.

SAS' role here is that of a pressure group, they have a responsibility to take the concerns and issues of their members to the Government and make them heard - they exist to bring such concerns to the Government's attention. The Government have a duty to address these concerns; the concerns of UK citizens.
SAS hope that now the issues have been flagged up, some serious thought on the Government's part will be put into how to overcome any possible obstacles. It is not going to be a satisfactory outcome if it is decided that the problem is unsolvable, SAS feel that with some careful thought there is a way to acknowledge all water users in the Directive and not just bathers.
SAS will now pursue this matter further with the DETR and the Minister for the Environment.