Marine Planning process - protecting the waves

Photo source: SASThe Marine Planning process has started. The first area opened up for Marine Planning is the East coast between Scarborough to Felixstowe. Currently every conceivable coastal stakeholder is making their claim to the sand.

The Marine Planning organisation who are leading the Marine Planning process have recognised recreational water users as stakeholders they need to include but don’t have the data for. The campaign group Surfers Against Sewage is working to ensure surfers, kite surfers, windsurfers get involved.

Ensuring local waves and surf spots are marked on the Marine Planning map might not immediately sound exciting or important. However when a developer decides to build a new marina they will need to consult these Marine Planning maps. It will open up stronger legislation to protect waves.

The increasing popularity of surfing is leading to significantly more pressure on water companies and the Environment Agency to ensure bathing water quality is improved. Currently the European Commission believes the UK is breaching the Urban Waste Water Directive by allowing CSO’s to discharge sewage too frequently. The outcome of the case being investigated by the European Court of Justice is expected shortly.

Campaign groups like Surfers against Sewage working with the water companies have started a sewage alert service to warm water users when CSO’s are .spilling. All this attention is ramping up the pressure and it’s a reasonable bet that the next periodic review will see increased expenditure on reducing CSO discharges.

Future direction in the water industry

Photo: Southern Water's new Brighton treatment works taking shape

Speaking at the British Water House of Lords reception this week, Lord Taylor Parliamentary under Secretary of State for Defra outlined the Government’s view of the priorities in the water sector. Some old favourites came up like the emphasis on innovation and a reminder of the TSB sponsored competition to promote Innovation due to be launched in the Spring.

Catchment management and the need to tackle unsustainable water extraction is a clear focus of Defra attention. It is an area where real progress can be made givern sufficient focus. Defra will also shortly be issuing guidance to Ofwat on how it would like to see regulation develop.

Last week the Government launched a bill to enable it to reduce the cost of water for South West Water’s customers by £50 year – as promised in the last budget. The bill also allows the Government to provide financial support if the cost of the Thames Tunnel escalates.

The Government’s view is that a lot of the proposals outlined in the water white paper do not need legislation, however for those that do a Water Bill will be announced in the Queen’s speech.