SURFERS 60 HOUR SEWAGE VIGIL UNDERWAY AT GUERNSEY'S GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS

Dr Loo in Guernsey - watch the film, sign the petition

Despite sub-zero temperatures campaigners from Surfers Against Sewage are about to spend their third night outside the States of Guernsey Government Buildings (Sir Charles Frossard House) in St Peter Port. St Peter Port.

The 60 hour vigil, which is being held in protest at the ongoing dumping of all Guernsey’s sewage raw into the island’s waters, will finish at 9:30am on Wednesday 25th January when the States of Deliberation meet to debate a recently published government green paper on sewage.

SAS are calling for a full sewage treatment option to be built to bring an end to the 'Victorian style pumping and dumping’ of untreated sewage into the sea, which many developed countries have now departed from.

The vigil (representing 1 hour for every 1000 of the 60,000 islanders) will serve as a constant reminder to politicians in the run up to Wednesday’s States of Deliberation meeting that many islanders want an investment in the sewerage infrastructure to see it fully modernised. This would not only allow recreational water users to use the island’s beaches without fearing for their health but could also bring real benefits to the island’s economy such as increased tourist visits and water reuse options.

The vigil comes during a period of public consultation in which the States has asked for the public’s view on the issue. The SAS vigil offers the public an easy opportunity to have their say and we will be collecting signatures for our petition during this vigil. So if islanders are looking to mark their support for the campaign that’s when and where they can do it! The petition, which has already generated over 2000 local signatures calls for full sewage treatment and will be presented to the Government during the public consultation period.

Richard Hardy, SAS Campaign Director says: “This peaceful vigil will add weight to the campaign for full sewage treatment and cannot be ignored by the States. Dumping untreated sewage at sea is completely unacceptable and an embarrassment to an island that otherwise offers so much, not least its wonderful panoramic landscape. SAS will be expecting a heavyweight discussion of the report during the meeting of the States of Deliberation, an acknowledgement that this is an issue of serious public concern needing urgent attention following far too many years of procrastination and some political support for a move towards full treatment”.

Dr Loo in Guernsey - watch the film, sign the petition

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