This is another useful step, but the NFU have just launched ‘NFU launches biggest farming conversation for a generation, I wonder will the environmental groups be able to muster a similar scale of initiative?

Phil Bremner, Containment News ‘Following on from my previous two Editor’s Comments, I am delighted in joining Surfers Against Sewage to report that the Vice Chairman of the Protect Our Waves All Party Parliamentary Group* is driving forward a Private Members’ Bill currently going through the House of Commons, calling for the maintenance of environmental legislation in the wake of the recent EU Referendum. The Bill makes provision about the safeguarding of standards of environmental protection derived from European Union legislation, including for water, air, soil, flood protection, and climate change, after the withdrawal of the UK from the EU; and for connected purposes.  The Bill is being sponsored by the Environmental Audit Committee member and vice chairman of the Protect Our Waves All Party Parliamentary Group, Geraint Davies MP

In the lead up to the EU Referendum, Surfers Against Sewage briefed members of the APPG about the importance of EU Directives in protecting our environment and the need for contingency planning to maintain or improve current levels of environmental protection they provide. The Bill is also being supported by POW APPG members Kerry McCarthy MP and Caroline Lucas MP.  It is fantastic to see members of SAS’s APPG calling for these important safeguards to current environmental standards provided through membership of the EU.

With the uncertainty that #Brexit is causing we now need to question what UK government environmental policy will be moving forward in post-EU politics and how this will influence national environmental legislation.   It is absolutely vital that we now ensure that the environment doesn’t fall to the bottom of the pile of new policy and legislative decisions. This Bill was first presented to Parliament on Wednesday 13 July 2016.  This is known as the first reading and there was no debate on the Bill at this stage. This Bill is expected to have its second reading debate on Friday 28 October 2016.

Between now and the second reading is a perfect time to contact your MP and ask them to join Surfers Against Sewage’s All Party Parliamentary Group to help ensure the UK safeguards existing environmental legislation and strengthens it wherever possible.

Surfers Against Sewage have made it very easy to do this via their TAKE ACTION page HERE

Phil Bremner

Editor:  Containment News, Flood News, Wireless eNews & LPRA eNews  CONTACT

Business Synergies Limited

Business Synergies Publications business.synergies@me.com

* The Protect Our Waves All Party Parliamentary Group  brings together MPs representing the UK’s key coastal communities to address the most urgent environmental issues highlighted by the Protect Our Waves (POW) petition – marine litter, recreational bathing water quality and coastal development. 55,000 surfers, environmentalists and recreational water users joined Surfers Against Sewage in signing the POW petition, which was delivered to 10 Downing in October 2013 with musician and surfer Ben Howard. The Protect Our Waves All Party Parliamentary Group is one of the only groups in Parliament specifically dedicated to marine conservation issues.