NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2002

Lastest figures for year-2,000 show that 75 of our UK 471 bathing beaches failed to reach a set safety standard (WHO microbiological assessment, Class C) for faecal derived bacteriological tests. It is likely that the reformed EC Bathing Water Directive (now overdue) will declare an even safer standard (Class B). Currently, 221 of our beaches reach this stricter B standard (does not include Thanet) and 57 passed the highest Class A standard. Thus for years 2001, 2002 and 2003 about 193 of our beaches (including Margate) should fail the expected reformed mandatory standard i.e. Class B. Safer does not necessarily mean safe. Government commissioned research by Cascade Consultants found that between 1.3 and 2.2 million cases of stomach upsets occur each year due to bathing in our contaminated waters. Simple arithmetic shows that the Thanet beaches' equal share is roughly between 2,796 and 4,671 cases. The vast majority of upsets are self-limiting, however, and therefore go unreported. Upsets also are rarely associated by victims to their beach visit. This excludes eye, ear, nose, throat, broken skin and respiratory virus infection. A WHO warning of a high risk of infection at beaches impacted by sewage discharges was sorely misrepresented in the 'low risk' conclusion of the abysmal Health Risk Assessment Report for Margate Beach commissioned by Dr M. Chandrakumar (East Kent Health Authority). The report should now be confined by planning authorities to File 13.

Will the public agree to subsidise water companies in order to bring about improvement over the next 25-years, is a question government asked. Of the £4.1 billion estimated for improvement, a government study (EFTEC consultants) shows that the public are willing to pay only £776 million. But the government are crafty in avoiding this payout and evade their duty to govern. This by throwing the blame onto the general public whose opinion was as ever predictable. Interestingly, the judge in a High Court case had asserted that expense was not a consideration for environmental health protection!

Government consultants (Cascade) somehow have been unable to estimate the cost of upgrading the Combined Sewage Stormwater Outfall (CSO) discharge system to one spill per year onto a beach (currently 15 are 'allowed'). But the cost is simply estimated, it is that of installing a sewage-stormwater holding tank scheme combined with outfall sterilization by UV-irradiation.

The Environment Agency Report on the contribution of contamination from Tivoli Brooks to the bacteriological test failures on Margate beach is inconclusive. Ownership of the Brooks cannot be resolved, and DEFRA is to be called-in over the dispute. As long since predicted by the FEA, Southern Water now offer to take responsibility for the Brooks if TDC will sell them the land at Foreness Point for extension of the sewage works! Environment chief Cllr Mike Harrison says "Our position is we will not sell them the land and are not going to be blackmailed into selling the land". Good on yer' TDC!

FEA Secretariat, c/o 34 Clafence Avenne, Margate CT9 3DR