Greenpeace Have Been Carrying Out Tests Along The Region's Coastline

Concerned about Great Yarmouth sea water, Greenpeace campaign against pollution from their boat Beluga.

Scenes filmed on the Greenpeace boat Beluga show organic dye being dropped into the seawater off Great Yarmouth and Caister to check whether tidal currents will push the water towards the shore. Greenpeace are concerned about a proposal by the Anglian Water Authority to close the sewage works and instead pump sewage into the sea three quarters of a mile off shore. Beluga returns to harbour at Yarmouth. In the laboratory on board, Andrew Booth of Greenpeace describes the collection and analysis of water samples. Glimpse of the beach at Great Yarmouth with deckchairs, bouncy castle and distant view of Wellington pier. Greenpeace have detected pollution off the pleasure beach at 14 times the EEC recommendation for a safe bathing area. Microbiologist Andy Richards says samples are being taken outside the holiday season when the population and sewage will double. There could be a risk of upset stomach and diarrhoea and even serious illness such as polio. Andrew Booth says the state of the beaches around the Essex and Great Yarmouth coast is a national disgrace and Great Britain is known on the continent as the Dirty Old Man of Europe. The Greenpeace campaigners are seen entering Great Yarmouth Town Hall where they present their report to the Mayor, Brenda Mills. They are calling for government funding for a sewage treatment plant and for Anglian Water to keep the public informed of any contamination. Banners and posters at the Town Hall announce a public meeting called by Greenpeace to discuss the sewer outfall. On the same day the government Environment minister, William Waldegrave, will tell a conference in Canada that British industry must work harder to control pollution. While in the region, Greenpeace will also be testing mud samples for toxic mercury in the River Yare near the May and Baker chemical factory in Norwich. View of the factory exterior and a bare area of dead tree stumps in a soakaway previously used by the company. Beluga will then travel on to test water at Mundesley and King’s Lynn before moving to the Humber area.

Keywords

Greenpeace; Sewage; Pollution; Water quality; Beaches; Water testing; Mayors; Water companies; Chemical companies