Holly Smith - 23-May-2007
- The Environment Agency is proud to be
joining the Midland's lesbian and gay community
celebrations at Birmingham Pride 2007 festival
on Sunday 27 May 2007, just nine days before
World Environment Day.
Our stand will be open between between
12 noon and 9pm. The first 1000 people to
come to see us and answer the following
questions will get a free bag for life designed
exclusively for us by Wayne Hemingway of
Red or Dead.
1. What's the number one thing you are
doing to tackle Climate Change?
2. What more could you be doing?
3. What's stopping you?
We will also be marching in the Mardi Gras
Parade between 2pm and 3pm from Victoria
Square to the Gay Village under the Environment
Agency banner "Proud to be at Pride".
Regional Director, Mark Sitton-Kent, says:
"I'm really pleased we are involved
in Birmingham Pride. The festival slogan
‘United for Equality’ mirrors our own philosophy,
and it provides an ideal opportunity to
engage with people and talk about our role,
whilst linking into environmental issues
such as World Environment Day and Climate
Change.
"To be an effective organisation we
need people from many different backgrounds
with many different skills, outlooks and
aptitudes. We want to be an organisation
that is inclusive and relevant to all our
staff, customers and the general public.
"Together, we can really make a difference
to the environment. Come and see us on Sunday
27 May to find out more about World Environment
Day and how we can make the Midlands a better
place.
"Climate change is the biggest threat
to our future. If you can’t join us at Birmingham
Pride, please take part in our web survey
and find out how you can help."
This year, the Environment Agency is asking
people to take part in World Environment
Day by helping to compile the nation’s biggest
ever survey on what they are doing to tackle
climate change. The short survey, together
with advice on other simple measures people
can take to reduce their impact, can be
found on www.mendoftheworld.org. The results
of this survey will help to shape our work
in the future.
+ More
Environment Agency concerned at potential
housing developments in high risk areas
Catherine Burbage - 22-May-2007 - Evidence
being given at Regional Spatial Strategy
starting Tuesday 22 May
The Environment Agency is voicing its concerns
about proposed housing developments in areas
at a high risk of flooding, at the Examination
in Public (EiP) of RSS8 which starts today.
The Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS8) sets
out a broad development strategy for the
East Midlands up to 2026 and is produced
by the East Midlands Regional Assembly (EMRA).
The Environment Agency will be talking
at the EiP about flood risk to new and existing
developments, water management to cope with
increased demand and waste management for
larger communities.
Neil Davies, Regional Strategy Manager
at the Environment Agency said, "We
are very concerned that the RSS proposes
housing development in areas that are at
a high risk of flooding. The East Coast
of Lincolnshire and some inland areas are
already at a high risk of flooding from
the sea or rivers and we will be opposing
any development which could put people's
lives and property at risk."
Neil continued, "We are pleased to
see that the regional plan already recognises
that new developments should have built-in
features to reduce water demand and we hope
that existing households will be encouraged
to decrease water use as well.
"We must make sure that appropriate
infrastructure is included in the plans
so that sewage, surface water run-off and
waste are all dealt with in ways which preserve,
and where possible improve, the environment
for people already living in and moving
into the East Midlands."
The Environment Agency will be presenting
its comments on developments in these areas
from 19 to 22 June and 3 July to 11 July,
subject to revision. Full copies of Environment
Agency and other submissions will be available
on the East Midlands Regional Assembly web
site after they have been presented.
+ More
Environment Agency hunts Gloucester, Kidderminster,
Telford and Worcester Bank Holiday licence
cheats
Holly Smith - 23-May-2007 - The Environment
Agency’s Environmental Crime Team is warning
local anglers that they will be out and
about in the Gloucester, Kidderminster,
Telford and Worcester areas this Bank Holiday
weekend, seeking anglers fishing without
a rod licence.
We have chosen these towns because our
intelligence operations tell us that there
are anglers who are likely to be fishing
there without a rod licence.
Although Environmental Crime Team officers
will be targeting these areas in particular
this weekend, patrols by Water Bailiffs
will take place across the Midlands, so
it is no use going elsewhere. There is nowhere
to hide.
Fishing inland waters without a rod licence
is a criminal offence. As well as a court
appearance and criminal record, offenders
lay themselves open to a possible fine of
up to £2,500.
And people who fish without a licence are
cheating their fellow anglers. We use the
money invested in rod licences by honest
anglers who care about their sport to help
to improve the future of angling for everyone.
We breed fish to re-stock waters that have
suffered from pollution.
We rescue fish that would otherwise die
because of problems in their water environment.
We check that fish movements are carried
out properly to prevent the spread of disease.
We provide facilities for disabled anglers.
We nurture a new generation of responsible
anglers by coaching youngsters and we make
sure there will be fish for them to catch.
This can be achieved only through the support
of anglers who buy rod licences.
Team Leader Al Watson says: "Anglers
who try to beat the system by not buying
a rod licence are cheats. They take unfair
advantage of improvements funded by their
honest colleagues without contributing a
penny themselves, and they reduce the money
we can invest in the sport.
"It is illegal to fish without a rod
licence. Our work to catch illegal anglers
is now carefully targeted based on intelligence.
Our message to rod licence cheats is clear.
We have the technology. We know who you
are and we know where to find you. When
we catch you, it could prove the most expensive
and memorable day’s fishing you’ve ever
had. Don’t risk getting caught this weekend.
Buy a rod licence now."
