Legal action launched to prevent waste from nuclear power plant construction from being dumped in the Bristol Channel

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An excavator in the Bristol Channel off Penarth. It’s No Game photo is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Activists from England and Wales have formed a new group to oppose the buildup of sediment from the construction of a nuclear power plant in the Severn Estuary and to take legal action to block the plans.

The Save the Severn Estuary / Cofiwch Môr Hafren campaign involves the Geiger Bay coalition and groups from the English side of the estuary, trying to remove sediment from the construction of the Hinkley C Power Plant in the Marine Protected Area (MPA) near Portishead, Bristol.

The group is calling on the Marine Management Organization (MMO) to revoke the license granted to EDF earlier this year to dump the waste, in violation of the MMO’s international obligations to protect the marine environment such as the Severn Estuary.

They are also demanding that UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, George Eustice, recognize the ban on any landfill that causes damage to the marine reserve and instruct the MMO accordingly.

EDF had originally applied for a permit from Natural Resources Wales to dispose of the sediment in the Cardiff Grounds off the Welsh coast, but switched to the Portishead site after mounting opposition and a Senedd debate over the plans.

In 2018, EDF sank 120,000 tonnes of mud in Welsh waters after granting a permit from North Rhine-Westphalia and filed a new application for an additional 780,000 tonnes in the same location last year.

Pollutants

EDF is dredging hundreds of thousands of tons of sediment from the decommissioned Hinkley A nuclear power plant to build a controversial underwater cooling system for the Hinkley C power plant, which critics say will kill millions of fish and harm the ecology of the estuary.

Scientists also warn that the disturbed sediment contains historical industrial pollutants with chemical and nuclear elements.

The Save the Severn Estuary legal challenge argues that the MMO did not have the legal authority to amend an existing license to allow disposal, alleging it failed to properly assess the impact on certain protected species and violated water quality regulations violated.

Historically, the Portishead site has always been used for harbor and fairway dredging disposal, and there is no evidence that it was ever used for the disposal of more controversial waste.

Cian Ciarán, on behalf of Save the Severn Estuary / Cofiwch Môr Hafren, said, “The MMO has ruthlessly allowed sediment to be dumped in Portishead and within sight of the Welsh coastline of sediments contaminated by a history of nuclear power and industrial activity.

“They know that contaminated mud ends up on our beaches and on mud banks in our tidal rivers. We do not know how much debris and how much goes into the air and reaches homes and farmland because the necessary assessments have not been carried out. The dumping shows contempt for the Welsh and English of Severnside and for conservation and fishing interests. “

Save the Severn Estuary / Cofiwch Môr Hafren have launched an appeal to help pay the legal challenge and are calling on residents and businesses around the Severn Marine Protected Area, including Avonmouth-Bristol and south-east Wales to Barry, to resist against the plans.

Covid-19 tests

Covid cases among under 25-year-olds show a sharp decline

According to new figures from Public Health Wales, the number of young people who tested positive for Covid-19 has fallen sharply.

The number of cases in under-25s has fallen in 20 out of 22 local authorities, with Merthyr Tydfil (61%) and Rhondda Cynon Taf (43%) falling the most.

Only Denbighshire and Pembrokeshire reported an increase in cases among those under 25 in the past seven days.

The surge in case numbers in recent weeks has been fueled mainly by an increase in cases among those under 25, and there has also been a large surge in cases among 12-16 year olds since returning to schools last month.

Today’s PHW bulletin also confirms that overall case rates continue to decline across Wales, with the weekly rate falling for the eighth straight day from 507.3 per 100,000 population to 489.4 since yesterday’s report.

Torfaen’s rate remains the highest in Wales at 682 but is down from 688.6 yesterday. The Vale of Glamorgan (626.8) is the only other parish in Wales with a fall rate of over 600.

Eight more deaths from Covid have been reported in the past 24 hours, bringing the total in Wales since the pandemic started to 5,942.

Four of the newly recorded deaths occurred in the area of ​​the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Authority and another death was confirmed in the Aneurin Bevan, Betsi Cadwaladr, Cardiff and Vale and Swansea Bay health authorities.

Job training. Photo by Anis on Pixabay

New job program announced for 16 to 18 year olds

The Welsh government has launched a new employment program that it claims will create “life changing opportunities” for 16-18 year olds in Wales.

The new innovative Jobs Growth Wales + program is aimed at those who are not in education, employment or training and offers a personalized package of support including access to mentoring, counseling, training and education.

The program, which starts in 2022, also includes bespoke employment opportunities subsidized at 50% of the national minimum wage.

“We want to give young people the skills and self-confidence to overcome barriers and realize their potential. Jobs Growth Wales + is designed to provide opportunities for young people in a rapidly changing world, regardless of skills, background, gender or ethnicity, ”said Economy Secretary Vaughan Gething.

“The Jobs Growth Wales + foundation builds on our Traineeship and Jobs Growth Wales programs and advances the strongest elements of both. Young people, employers and contractors have helped us shape this new support package with changes that will ensure that young people receive the best possible service. “

Photo from CDC on Unsplash

Schools in Wales said they need to improve the teaching of BAME stories and cultures

A new report from Estyn, the Education and Training Inspectorate for Wales, found that schools in multicultural areas are better at conveying the history of BAME people and communities, and that teachers need more professional support on diversity, anti-racism and culture and Teaching ethnic minority history within Wales.

Earlier this week it was announced that all children in elementary school in Wales from 2022 and secondary schools in 2023 will be taught BAME history as part of the new curriculum that will roll out next year.

Claire Morgan, Chief Inspector of Estyn, told BBC Wales: “The Black Lives Matter movement is refocusing on anti-racism education and teaching black, Asian and ethnic minority history and culture.”

“It is clear that more needs to be done to ensure that teaching and learning represents all of Wales’ communities and their international connections.”

The report also concluded that, when given the opportunity, students enjoyed learning about local and Welsh history, identity and culture, and the contribution of ethnic minority individuals.

Sunrise over Port Talbot. Photo by ohefin is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Lib Dems urge the government to introduce their Clean Air Act for Wales

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have called on the Welsh government to comply with their promised Wales Clean Air Act, saying that “the health of the Welsh people can no longer wait for its introduction”.

It is estimated that 2,000 people die of poor air quality annually in Wales and many more have their average life expectancy reduced, while the cost of air quality-related health conditions to the Welsh NHS is around £ 1 billion each year.

“Next month Glasgow will host the COP26 international climate conference, now it is time for the Welsh government to take action. Jane Dodds, leader of the Welsh Liberals, said.

“We are facing a crisis, one in five of us will develop a lung disease at some point in our lives and five cities in Wales have all reported illegal and dangerous air pollution levels in recent years.

“We know that poor air quality has a particularly strong impact on the health of the most vulnerable people – for example very young or very old people or people with cardiovascular diseases. We also know that air quality can be significantly worse in disadvantaged communities, which are already often faced with other health care challenges. Both of these factors could place unnecessary burdens on health and social services in Wales. “

First Minister Mark Drakeford pledged to introduce a clean air bill as part of his leadership campaign in 2018 and was also challenged on Tuesday on Tuesday over the government’s failure to enact the bill by the Welsh Conservatives on questions from the First Minister in Senedd.

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