press release
    15th June 2004

SAS has campaigned hard to ensure that recreational water users (everyone who uses the water) are recognised and protected under the new Bathing Water Directive. This means that wherever we regularly choose to use the water we should be protected by higher water quality standards and water quality information so we can make informed decisions before we use the water and run the risk of getting sick (currently a 1 in 20 risk).

We took our campaign to Strasbourg and the European Parliament last October. An SAS hitsquad passed the message (in a bottle) onto MEP’s just before they went into vote. We scored a great victory and had our demands acknowledged and included in the recommended improvements to the Bathing Water Directive.

However, it still had to pass the European Council in Brussels last December. So just 3 days before Christmas an SAS hitsquad headed to Brussels to urge the Council not to weaken the proposed improvements to the Directive. We were not so successful here and saw the new Bathing Water Directive stall somewhat.

Now there are plans to throw out the recognition of recreational water user that we all fought so hard for. An SAS hitsquad are planning to show up at the Environment Council meeting at the end of June with as many images of surfers, wind surfers, divers, sailors, canoers, kite surfers, bathers and anyone else who uses the water. This will hopefully show ministers that there are hundreds of thousands of recreational water users and we need protecting!!!!

So if you enjoy the ocean, seas and waters around the UK in any way then get an image of you doing your thing in to us at richard@uknetweb.com by the 21 st June. It doesn’t have to be an action shot, you on the beach/shore getting ready to go in would be great. Help us show them that we need protecting!!!

Send us your images here!

Back