Swansea AMs Succeed In Sand Dredging Review

LOCAL Assembly Members Edwina Hart, Andrew Davies and Val Lloyd have succeeded in bringing forward a review into sand dredging in the Bristol Channel.

Following representations from the three AMs, Environment Minister Jane Davidson has agreed to bring forward an independent review on the issue to next year.

The Minister has already placed strict conditions on the current dredging licence in the Helwick Bank area - halving the amount of sand that can be dredged each year and limiting the licence to a seven year period rather than the fifteen years originally proposed.

In a joint statement, Gower AM Edwina Hart and Swansea AMs Val Lloyd and Andrew Davies said:
''We welcome the Welsh Assembly Government's decision to bring forward a review into sand dredging to 2008.
''This is an important issue for our constituents and we are pleased that the Minister has listened to our representations and taken action to examine this issue sooner than had been planned.

''We also support the strict conditions that the Assembly Government has placed on the current dredging licence. The Minister has rejected proposals for a licence to dredge 300,000 tonnes of sand per year over 15 years in favour of a 150,000 tonne annual limit over 7 years subject to tough environmental conditions and regular monitoring by the relevant environmental authorities and Swansea council.

''Protecting the local environment and the local tourism industry is our priority and we welcome the Assembly Government's support and positive approach towards the issues we have raised.''

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