 Deputy
Minister and constituency MSP, Allan Wilson has hit back angrily at comments
by nationalist list MSP, Campbell Martin, which branded bathing water at
Ardrossan/Saltcoats South Beach “a disgrace”.
“In fact, preliminary results of the 2003 bathing season are the best yet
for Scotland’s designated bathing waters, with the results for Ayrshire
particularly pleasing because all the designated bathing waters met tough
European standards,” said Mr Wilson.
“Specifically, the bathing water quality at South Beach is as good as
anywhere in Europe, including Spain and Greece where hundreds of thousands
of Scots bathe each year” said Mr Wilson.
“Of the 20 samples taken during the bathing season at South Beach only ONE
sample failed to meet EU standards. This completely refutes Mr Martin’s
claim that there had been a failure to cut down on sewage discharge,” said
the Minister.
SEPA investigated the single failure at Saltcoats South Beach and found NO
evidence that this was due to sewage discharges”.
“On the contrary, the good results are the consequence of continuing work
and substantial investment to improve sewage effluents and reduce diffuse
sources of pollution,” said Mr Wilson.
“Traditionally, bathing waters in the southwest of Scotland are the most
likely to fail to meet standards of the EU directive. This is due to a
combination of land use, with the greatest part of the dairy industry
located in this area, high rainfall, fast flowing rivers and relatively
impermeable soils,” said Mr Wilson.
“Given these factors culminate in adverse climactic, geological and
environmental conditions, Ayrshire’s success in meeting EU standards is all
the more remarkable and Martin’s criticism all the more misplaced.”
“If he doesn’t know what he’s talking about he should shut up and stop
denigrating the efforts of all those in SEPA and the agricultural community
working to combat diffuse pollution.”
“More importantly, talking down the real achievement of cleaning up South
Beach damages the economic interests of Ardrossan & Saltcoats and threatens
prosperity and jobs,” said Mr Wilson.
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