news release
    20th October 2003

A delegation of clean water campaigners from Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) are hitting Strasbourg on Tuesday to deliver 'clean water' messages to MEP's at the European Parliament when they vote on a new Bathing Water Directive.

The gas masked surfers wearing wetsuits and holding surfboards will time their arrival so as they will be the last thing MEP's see before they vote on new bathing water legislation at the Louise Weiss building of the European Parliament in Allee du Printemps, Strasbourg on Tuesday 21st October.

They will also be joined by Green MEP Dr Caroline Lucas who has been a leading advocate for reform on the Directive, working to secure better protection for the marine environment and those who use it.

PHOTOCALL: At 11:00am on Tuesday 21st October outside the main entrance of the European Parliament's Louise Weiss building, surfers will layout 'messages in bottles' to give to MEP's as they arrive to vote on the Directive. The PLEA FOR HELP! messages inside the bottles will call on MEP's to vote for new legislation that will provide tougher water quality standards, improved communication of water quality information to the public and year round protection for recreational water users.

Richard Hardy, Campaigner SAS:
"We have a once in a lifetime chance to make sure that Europe's recreational water users are afforded the health protection they deserve whilst enjoying their sport. The Bathing Water Directive is the only piece of legislation that has the potential to provide that protection, but at the moment it falls far short of doing the job. SAS are in Strasbourg to urge MEP's not to lose their bottle and to use the opportunity that revisiting this piece of legislation provides to ensure that Europe's growing water sports population is both recognised and protected ".

For further information please contact Richard or Vicky on Tel: 01872 553001 or Mob: 07711 767548.

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