The Brighton Group

The paddle begins - Photograph by Mark Baynes www.baynes.co.uk 2004 - Another successful paddle... On Saturday 12th June surfers, canoeists and many other water users from all over the south took to the seas in a campaign to win full sewage treatment for Brighton. With incredible local support the beach was rammed with mals, short-boards, bodyboards, kayaks or anything that floated.Ozzy Adam even turned up in his bikini and armbands! Volks railway laid on special trains to take surfers from the free carpark at Black Rock --- Complete with Board Racks!! The only cloud over the whole day was the big black one that appeared just in time for the group photo! but generally it was hot and sunny. At 12 midday on the dot the masses took to the water. A great spectacle as the swarm of people made their way around the pier in front of the crowds of holiday makers watching from the beach and the pier. To top it all there was even a tiny little wave after the paddle - perhaps a 'thank you' from the ocean! Thanks to the great number of people who entered and helped raise over £4000 for Surfers Against Sewage and raised the awareness for the fight for UV treatment in front of the hundreds of on-lookers on Brighton Beach. The SAS Crew who travelled up from Cornwall Photograph by Mark Baynes www.baynes.co.uk       SURFING SANTA URGES SOUTHERN WATER TO ‘SEE THE UV LIGHT’ Xmas 2003: A Surfers Against Sewage ‘Santa’ made a special delivery of UV style lights to a surprised Southern Water Chief Executive Stuart Derwent just before xmas following the recent decision by the company not to provide Brighton with the best sewage and wastewater treatment system. Santa was joined by some tinselled up surfers - all angered by the company’s decision not to include UV light disinfection to the proposed new plant at Peacehaven. With the equivalent of 80 Olympic sized swimming pools of raw sewage being pumped into the ocean off Brighton each day a modern sewage treatment works is needed now more than ever. Any beach resort in the UK that does not benefit from the best technology available will be at a distinct disadvantage in the future in attracting visitors to its bathing waters. Many of Britain’s top bathing resorts are benefiting from UV disinfection with bathers, surfers, windsurfers, sailors and divers all benefiting from increased health protection. Those choosing to use the water for recreational water use in Brighton will continue to face health risks without a full treatment policy. The reality of modern day sewage treatment is that nothing other than full sewage treatment can kill the viruses and bacteria that thrive in poorly treated sewage effluent discharged to sea. Richard Gregory, SAS Director and Brighton spokesman says: "By not incorporating UV, Southern Water has shown no seasonal goodwill to the residents of Brighton. It’s only their shareholders that will be celebrating this Christmas with bigger dividends at the expense of the environment. Our new years resolution has come early this year – ‘to ensure Brighton gets UV!".

 

FILM NIGHT SUCCESS! July 8th 2003 More than 320 people filled the Duke of Yorks Cinema in Brighton for the sell-out surf movie double bill and helped raise hundreds of pounds for Surfers Against Sewage. Richard Gregory's first ever film "Not California - this is surfing in Brighton" was the big hit of the night with much deserved cheers and applause throughout. Big queues built up outside the cinema in anticipation, and unfortunately about 30 people had to be turned away because all the seats were sold. The night saw the European premier of Michael Halsband's "Surf Movie: Reels 1 -14", a chilled out look at some of the world's best surfers in action. Its arty style and cool vibe set the evening up nicely. "Not California" went on after the interval and blew everyone away with its power, style and a pumping soundtrack from local musicians. Everyone was totally stoked with the film that really captured the feeling of what it's like to surf in the Brighton area. It's an outstanding film and amazing that it's Richard's first effort - keep checking www.notcalifornia.co.uk for updates on his new projects. "Not California" is now available for sale on VHS, along with some cool t-shirts. The DVD version will be out soon. Organiser Pete Robinson says: "Thanks to everyone for coming and making the night such a massive success. Richard deserves a huge 'thanks' from all us for making such a fantastic film." "I'm sorry we had to turn people away, if they want to contact me we can make sure they get priority tickets for the next one. We raised more than £500 for Surfers Against Sewage and the campaign for clean seas." "More than that, this was a great night for Brighton's surfing community and reflected the stoke we all share down here." The evening was sponsored by Sammy and Poul from Tuaca who gave out free shots in the bar (check out their website www.danesltd.co.uk) - a big thanks to them and everyone else who helped promote the night and make it a complete success.

SAS Action 7th June 2003 "Thanks from SAS to everyone who turned up for the Vigil How impresive (with surfers down from london!) there were nearly 80 people in the water! The BBC were there and we hope the images we got from the camera on the pier will be used as part of the ongoing campaign for new legislation and full treatment for Brighton special thanks to Reece, Andre and the vics (you know who you are)" Richard Gregory "Just wanted to thank everyone who came out for the SAS demo on Saturday! Anyone wanting to get more involved with our actions - regionally or nationally can email me at richard@sas.org.uk Thanks a million" Richard Hardy SAS Cornwall www.sas.org.uk

SAS Demo - Brighton Beach

A huge thanks to everyone who turned up and sat down
for our demo on wed the 8th Aug 2001.
we got some good media out of it and some spectacular photos
as you can see

why SAS are campaigning Brighton

With a population of 275,000 and a thriving beach and water sports scene, it
may come as a surprise that all sewage from the city of Brighton is
currently discharged into the sea without treatment. On December 31st 2000,
the discharge became illegal in the eyes of the European Commission, yet
Southern Water are still to come up with a sewage treatment scheme for the
resort ñ leaving the UK open to legal action.

SAS call for the full treatment of sewage at all times and in all places and
Brighton is no exception to the rule. Every other major seaside resort in
the UK has a sewage treatment scheme either up and running or planned, yet a
solution for Brighton has still not appeared ñ Southern Water are saying it
will be 10 years before anything is in place!

*
* Under the 1991 Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive all sewage
treatment schemes serving populations of 15,000 or over, are subject to
secondary treatment by Dec 31st 2000.

* A 1998 House of Commons Environment Select Committee Report into
Sewage Treatment and Disposal in the UK recommended that "all sewage should
be fully treated at all times and in all places".

* Full treatment is also known as tertiary treatment and includes
technologies such as Ultra-Violet disinfection and microfiltration. These
technologies have been tried and tested and are now in place all around the
UK, with excellent results.

* SAS gave evidence at the 2000 Public Inquiry into the proposed
Brighton scheme. Southern Water were proposing a secondary treatment works
using an existing long sea outfall as the discharge point, SAS were calling
on Southern Water to use the best available technology and incorporate UV
disinfection into the scheme. Not only would UV result in a final effluent
that is 99% free of faecal bacteria, the effluent would be clean in the
pipe, removing the need to utilise the already existing outfall and opening
up the treatment plant location options!

"Cutting out the middle -man" - Brighton SAS 8/8/01

Dear SAS Supporter,

SAS are pushing for changes to the E.C. Bathing Water Directive, the piece of legislation that governs the quality of Europe's bathing waters.
At the moment this directive only applies to waters used by bathers which
means that other water users are not getting the protection they deserve.
SAS want to show the European Commission and Parliament that people are using the water year round.

We urgently need to show the commission that people are using undesignated spots around the country. Your help now will help us to push for legislation that protects your health where ever and when ever you're in the water.

Please take a few minutes to fill out our questionnaire at
www.sas.org.uk/quest.html

About SAS - general Introduction to the national campaign

Surfers Against Sewage are a UK based, non-profit making organization campaigning for an end to the discharge of raw and partially treated sewage and toxic waste, into our oceans and inland waters.

Clean beaches and rivers are a resource vital to the economy and well-being of any nation. Sewage-free coastal and inland waters mean recreational water-users can practice their sports in a clean, safe environment, without fear of getting ill.

For the last 10 years, SAS have been focusing their attention on the coastline and rivers of the UK. In the last few months of 1999 the UK Government agreed an £8.5 billion spend on cleaning up the aquatic environment. THE PRESSURE IS WORKING!

SAS have only been able to work effectively as a pressure group with the help and support of our members and sponsors. We still need your help, the pressure must continue.

The UK is on its' way to losing its' "Dirty Man of Europe" tag, but we have to drive the improvements in.

The issue of sewage pollution must be kept high on the public agenda, we can only do this with the funds that our members and sponsors provide.

Want to become a member? Click here

For any offers of help or request for info please email Richard

Local newsletter Number 20 Xmas 2000/ Jan 2001