Latest news with #StuartDavies
ITV News
18-05-2025
- General
- ITV News
Surfers unite at sewage protests across the south
Campaigners from the south have joined a nationwide protest against sewage pollution in our seas and rivers. Surfers, swimmers and kayakers took part in a mass Paddle-Out at more than 40 sites across the country, including Brighton, Hastings, Boscombe, Ryde, Bournemouth and Lyme Regis, and at Victoria Park Boating Pond in Newbury. Co-ordinated by the environmental charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), the protests called for transformational reform of the water industry. They believe sewage pollution remains a threat to the UK's blue spaces and public health. The protests took place at the start of the official bathing season in England and Wales - which runs from 15 May to 30 September. Last year, there were 8,704 sewage discharges in England during the bathing season, an average of more than 60 a day. Stuart Davies, organiser of the Brighton Pier Paddle-Out Protest said: 'We are paddling out to call for total reform of the water industry because we seem to be in the same place each year. "We see record levels of sewage pollution in our blue spaces, especially here on the south coast. "It makes me extremely angry. Many a time, I have been personally affected. I can't go sea swimming. I can't go surfing. "I also volunteer for the Wave Project which provides surf therapy for young people. That's been cancelled a few times, and we couldn't go in the water." Giles Bristow, CEO at Surfers Against Sewage said: 'Our failing water industry has been trumpeting billions in investment to clean up their act, but we know that these fat cat bosses can't be trusted to keep their promises. "The proof is in the missed targets, shocking statistics and devastating stories of sickness we continue to see year after year. "We've had enough of their lies, greed and incompetence and know that this nightmare will not end until the whole water system is radically reformed." Southern Water says their Clean Rivers and Seas Plan shows how they intend to reduce storm overflows across the region. They say they have invested £1.6 billion into the company in recent years, to help deliver a "significant programme of improvement." On their website Thames Water says "We want to be very clear on our stance. "Putting untreated sewage into rivers is unacceptable to us, our customers and the environment.
The Independent
17-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Thousands turn out for paddle out protests over ‘sewage scandal'
Thousands of people voiced their anger of the spilling sewage into UK waters at dozens of 'paddle out' protests held across the country. At more than 40 beaches, rivers and lakes across the UK, people armed with boards and placards take to the water to demand urgent reform of the water industry in events organised by the campaign group Surfers Against Sewage. It comes as new Opinium polling suggested that fewer than one in five people believe they will able to swim safely at their local bathing spot by 2030 without risking their health as a result of sewage pollution. And the survey of 2,000 people found just 21 per cent of respondents trusted the government to ensure water suppliers reduce sewage spills, with more than half a million discharges into our seas, lakes and rivers in 2024. Data released by the Environment Agency in March showed water companies released a record amount of raw sewage into England's rivers and seas last year. The Independent Water Commission is currently reviewing its evidence before making recommendations to government on reforming the water industry. Stuart Davies, an organiser of the Brighton protest, said: 'We are paddling out because we seem to be in the same place each year. We see record levels of sewage pollution in our blue spaces, especially here on the south coast. 'Many a time, I have been personally affected. I can't go sea swimming. I can't go surfing. I also volunteer for the Wave Project which provides surf therapy for young people. That's been cancelled a few times, and we couldn't go in the water. It makes me extremely angry. 'We are paddling out in protest of the scandal and to call for total reform of the water industry.' The Independent recently donated £20,000 to Surfers Against Sewage to help support the group's work, as new figures revealed the number of beauty spots deemed unfit for swimming because of sewage had doubled in a year. Of England's 451 protected bathing spots, 37 are now rated as poor – the lowest category – because they contain unsafe levels of potentially deadly bacteria, including E coli and intestinal enterococci, due to sewage spills.
Press and Journal
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- Press and Journal
Westhill Costco petrol station plans approved - as firm rubbishes traffic concerns
Costco have been given the green light to build a petrol station next to the Westhill store. The retail giant's plans have been approved by Aberdeenshire Council – meaning it will be their first fuelling station in the north-east, with the nearest one now in Edinburgh. The site will have 12 petrol pumps, alongside a host of electric vehicle charging points. Fears had been raised over traffic concerns at the already-busy Kingshill Commercial Park. But the American firm had experts on hand to dispel any fears of clogged up roads. The new filling station will take shape near its megastore at the Arnhall Business Park in Westhill. It would be built on Endeavour Drive, just a stone's throw from the one at Tesco. All Costco petrol stations are entirely self-service, and don't have the trademark convenience store attached. The filling stations are available only to Costco members, who need to pay £33.60 per year to take advantage of the bargain bulk deals in store. Prior to Wednesday's Garioch area committee meeting, fears had been raised over the potential increase in traffic the petrol station could cause. Westhill and Elrick Community Council argued: 'The traffic around this area is always busy at peak times in the morning, evenings and lunchtime. 'If a pedestrian crossing was installed it would allow pedestrians to cross the road in safety and also act as a method of slowing down the traffic.' But despite these fears, Costco bosses had the facts at hand to prove that their new petrol station would have little effect on congestion. Stuart Davies, the firm's traffic expert, told the meeting that most of the people who used the store's petrol stations in Glasgow and Edinburgh were already visiting the shop anyway. Mr Davies said: 'From membership card data at other Costco locations, we know that almost half of fuel transactions are made by members who are already visiting the warehouse as part of the same journey. 'Consequently, many of the visitors who will purchase fuel in Westhill will already be on the roads at the Kingshill Commercial Park.' In the end, councillors approved the plans – and you can view the full proposals here.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A remote US island will soon power itself with an untapped rare source: 'One of the best sites in the country'
A remote U.S. island hopes to develop a world-class energy facility that will help it deal with the hours of electricity outages during adverse weather. Eastport, Maine, is the United States' easternmost city, and the island community is no stranger to losing connection to the mainland electricity supply during big storms. As reported by Inside Climate News, the island hopes to change this by becoming energy resilient — a move that has put it at the forefront of Maine's renewable energy transition. The move was spearheaded by an Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project grant that was awarded in 2021. This grant funded work to develop energy generation and storage right there on the island. Now, an initiative driven by local people is looking to build a microgrid that runs off solar and tidal power. This could help the island cope with hours of outages and move islanders away from using diesel, which generates harmful and polluting emissions. Where does the majority of your home's electricity come from? Statewide power company Smaller local provider Community solar Off-grid source Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Eastport already has solar power operating on the island, but the community of 1,300 residents hopes to supplement this by taking advantage of the strong currents that are found nearby. "This site off of Eastport is one of the best sites in the country for tidal power," said Stuart Davies, the CEO of the Ocean Renewable Power Company, per Inside Climate News. These developments in Eastport align with the goal of ensuring the U.S. is powered by 100% renewable energy by 2035. Swapping to renewable energy is essential to cut pollution that comes from dirty energy sources such as coal, oil, and gas. Clean energy, produced by solar, wind, and tidal among other sources, is much better for the environment and public health, and is less expensive. In addition to sourcing funding for its renewable energy goals, the Eastport community is also looking to increase the energy efficiency of its homes. The city's energy committee has secured funding to help residents identify where their homes need improved insulation. Weatherizing your home is a surefire way to reduce heating and cooling costs, saving you money on utility bills while also cutting pollution. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
