22-Jun-2007 - This week
(Weds 20 June), business leaders from across
Liverpool were treated to an exclusive one-off
performance of a specially written play,
commissioned by the Environment Agency,
aimed at raising awareness about the ever-increasing
problem of fly-tipping.
The play formed part of the unique business
networking event organised by the Environment
Agency in conjunction with LIPA (The Liverpool
Institute for Performing Arts) designed
to support and educate businesses about
the problems and serious consequences of
dumping waste.
Businesses were informed through the play
that the penalties for dumping waste are
serious and can include prison sentences
and fines of up to £50,000.
Helen McCallum, Director of Corporate Affairs
at the Environment Agency said: "Liverpool
City Council spent over £1m last year
cleaning up fly-tipped waste. This is paid
for by the tax payer, and I for one don’t
want my taxes being spent cleaning up after
waste criminals."
Arwyn Jones, National Programme Manager
said: At the BREW Programme, which is funded
by DEFRA, we’re using new technologies to
catch waste criminals including number plate
recognition and forensics. We work closely
with local authorities and the police to
crackdown on the dumping of illegal waste.
Tonight was part of an ongoing campaign
to make sure businesses and the community
in the Mersey area know what their responsibilities
are. The campaign is designed to encourage
and support businesses to make better use
of their resources and manage their waste
more efficiently helping them to save money
and the environment."
Anybody wanting more information on their
waste responsibilities can visit the Environment
Agency website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk
+ More
Oil pollution kills swans at Brooklands
Lake
Lucy Harding - 19-Jun-2007 - The Environment
Agency is appealing for information after
oil entered Brooklands Lake in Lancing.
Three cygnets have died and two swans and
a further cygnet have been removed from
the lake.
The Environment Agency was called to the
scene on 15 June 2006 by Worthing and District
Animal Rescue Service (WADARS) who reported
seeing oil at Brooklands Lake. Environment
Officers quickly identified that oil was
discharging from a surface water drain.
The Environment Agency, assisted by WADARS,
quickly used floating booms and oil absorbents
to contain and then absorb the oil to limit
any further damage to the lake.
Unfortunately three cygnets died later
that evening as a result of the pollution.
Brooklands is a popular boating lake that
attracts a wide range of wildfowl and supports
a large fish population. The Environment
Agency is currently cleaning up the spill
and officers have launched a full investigation
into the pollution which they believe to
have come from Lancing Industrial Estate
Environment Officer Andrew Barnes said:
“It is important that people dispose of
potentially polluting material, such as
oil, in the correct manner. Drains are often
wrongly seen as a convenient place to get
rid of substances but the surface water
drainage system is purely designed to take
rainwater and in most cases they will lead
to a watercourse.
“Unfortunately it looks as though the thoughtless
actions of someone pouring oil into the
surface water drain has caused the death
of 3 cygnets. It is thanks to the quick
response of those who attended the lake
that a far more serious pollution was avoided.
This incident could have caused greater
environmental damage and further loss of
wildlife.”
Anyone who has information about the incident
should call the Environment Agency’s 24
hour incident hotline in confidence on 0800
807060.
WADARS Animal Rescue Officer Billy Elliot
added: “We have removed both the parents
and one remaining cygnet from the lake and
taken them to the Swan Sanctuary at Walton-on-Thames
for cleaning and treatment. They are doing
well and we hope to bring them back to Brooklands
when the work to clean the lake is done”.
WADARS are a Worthing (UK) based charity
dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation
of wildlife and the rescue and re-homing
of domestic animals. The organisation relies
entirely on donations, legacies and fundraising
to keep it running.
