In a most welcome development, and in response to questions tabled before Parliament by MEP’s Graham Watson and Ashley Fox, the European Environment Commissioner has stated that “there are shortcomings present at the CEPSA Oil Refinery” with respect to emission levels and compliance.

See next entries on this page for full EU Statement and Mr Watson’s news release. The ESG will be issuing a full statement later today.

The ESG has, for a number of years now, supplied information for the Gibraltar Telephone Directory on what we all need to do when disposing of different types of waste.

You can find this information in the “Around &  About in Gibraltar” section in the phone book, and we feature under “Environment”, on pages 6 and 7. The information in this years entry has been changed quite significantly and these changes have already gone through to the publishers. If you have any query on any of the items in our section please call us on 200-48996 or on mobile 54960000. One glaring error is the telephone number for Gibraltar Support Services ltd which should read 200-47015. They accept  just about anything from the individual and household so important to have the right number!!

Also updated are details of bin locations for glass, cans and household batteries- Please see the previous entry on website for precise details of this and help spread the word!!

DETAILS OF BINS PROVIDED THROUGHOUT GIBRALTAR AS AT MARCH 2011 

Recycling Glass (G), Cans (C) and Household Batteries (B) locations

■ North District: Gibraltar Airport Service Area  (G),(C) / Glacis Estate ‐ Archbishop Amigo House (G), (C), (B) /

Constitution House north (G),(C) / Bayside Rd ‐ Teachers’ Car Park entrance  (G),(C),(B) / Ocean Village (G),(C) /

Mons Calpe Road ‐ Coach Park Entrance (G),(C),(B)

■ North East District

Laguna Estate ‐ by Refuse Cubicle Ballymena House (G,C), Laguna Estate/Devil’s Tower Rd ‐ by Refuse Cubicle Ark Royal Hse  (G),(C),(B) / Cemetery Road ‐ by roundabout (G),(C)

■ East District

Eastern Beach Road ‐ 2 locations (G),(C)

Sir Herbert Miles Road ‐ bus stop by William’s Way Refuse Cubicle (G),(C),(B), Sir Herbert Miles Road ‐ Black Strap Cove lay-by (G),(C),(B).

■ South District

Little Bay ‐ promenade entrance (G),(C) / Camp Bay promenade (G),(C) / Rosia Road ‐ by Rosia Battery (G),(C) /

Rosia Road ‐ by bus stop RGP HQ New Mole House (G),(C),(B) / Cumberland Road ‐ by refuse enclosure (North) (G),(C) / Naval Hospital Road within refuse enclosure south (G),(C) / Europa Road ‐ by bus stop Garrison Gym (G),(C) / Europa Road ‐ behind bus stop ex‐Casino lift  (G),(C),(B) / Europa Road ‐ lookout at top of path leading to Heathfield House, Witham’s Road (G),(C)

■ South West District

Witham’s Road ‐ between Jumper’s Building and St John’s Court  (G),(C), / Red Sands Road ‐ by Governor’s Meadow House  (G),(C) / Red Sands Road ‐ Grand Parade entrance (G),(C) / Rosia Road ‐ footpath by Saluting Battery Promenade (north) (G),(C),(B)

■ West

Queensway ‐ Commonwealth Car Park (G),(C) /  Reclamation Road ‐ Leisure Centre  (G),(C)  

■ North West

Edinburgh Estate ‐ 2 locations (north and south) (G),(C) / Queensway ‐ Westside School entrance  (G),(C) /      

Varyl Begg Estate ‐ St Paul’s School entrance (G),(C) / Varyl Begg Estate car park by Royal Sovereign House (G),(C) /

Harbour Views Estate (G),(C),(B) / Europort Avenue ‐ by entrance to rowing clubs (G),(C),(B) / Fish Market Road ‐ by refuse cubicle (G),(C),(B) / Opposite St Bernard’s Hospital entrance (G),(C),(B) / Harbour Views Road ‐ parking by Bishop Fitzgerald School (G),(C),(B) /  Devil’s Tongue/Waterport Road junction footpath (G),(C),(B)

■ Within City Wall

Grand Casemates ‐ Service Area (G),(C) / Cloister Ramp (G),(C),(B) / Line Wall Road – opposite Irish Place (G),(B)

 Please note that the above include those that will be returned to bathing locations during the summer season & to current construction sites.

Information obtained from the Government of Gibraltar

 Environmental Safety Group  www.esg-gib.net    email: esg@gibtelecom.net  tel: (350) 200-48996 or 54960000

Hi, today is a full on environmental action and promotion day! We start the day off by meeting a journalist from El Pais, one of Spain’s leading national newspapers, to discuss environmental issues affecting the Bay. We shall, as always, strive to present an accurate and balanced picture of regional problems on both sides of the border. If the article is published we shall inform the community – it’s a chance to promote clear and accurate information of the bays real environmental issues out in the Spanish mainland and we won’t miss this opportunity. 

After this we shall be holding an information stall outside the Cathedral in support of the “No! To Sewage at sea!” Campaign, regarding ongoing contamination and closure of Western Beach. We shall be issuing information that today, our MEP Graham Watson will be taking action on our behalf in Brussels presenting both the close to three thousand signature petition to the European Petitions Committee and the Official Complaint prepared by the ESG to the Directorate DG at the Commission itself. Both submissions are demanding urgent action and a resolution to this problem. We thank Mr Watson for his efforts and wish him luck in getting a meaningful outcome in Brussels; we certainly know that won’t be easy! Incidentally, the petition continues and if you haven’t yet signed you have another chance today so please come along, between 1pm and 2.30pm outside the Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned where we shall be very pleased to see you.

Moving on, and this evening sees a Viewpoint Programme discussing the environmental impact and viability of the new Gibraltar airport. Should be an interesting debate with the panel discussing Airline, Tourism, Business and Environmental issues. Do watch the programme, or better still, why not phone in with your point of view- after all these programmes are designed to inform and involve the public.

We would like to end this broadcast with a reference to the news in the Spanish press about a week ago that the Gibraltar govt had already decided Eastside Bunkering was to go ahead. Whether the Spanish press are accurately reporting on the story or not, this theory is more than substantiated in the little circulated new Port Handbook which carries various references to expanding business, and business opportunity in the east side. Another detailed reference to this expansion can be found in a highly detailed profile article on Gibraltar in the UK’s Guardian in January of this year, which shone a spotlight on the many economic pillars on the rock and bunkering was deemed a major and growing earner.  With the EIA not even completed on the proposed east side bunkering, and government and industry appearing to be moving full speed ahead in touting for extra business, it will be difficult to put the brakes on this business, but we surely intend to try.

As for the reasons why? Well, you can read about this in some detail in an in depth interview we gave Panorama which will be published tomorrow –Friday.

As usual, please visit our website for more news on these stories and other issues concerning the environment: on esg-gib.net –

I frequently meet people who have caught the odd ESG broadcast here and there and who would like to catch up on all the news stories we promote- if you are one such person and are catching us by chance today, by visiting our website you can download a members form and once registered,  will receive copies of all broadcasts and press statements  as they are released ensuring that you are kept as up to date as possible on all the local environmental issues the ESG considers are of utmost importance to the community. Don’t forget, check it out today, on esg-gib.net.   All for now, and thanks for listening-

3^rd March 2011

 The ESG would like to inform the Gibraltar community that today (Thursday 3^rd March) will see our MEP Graham Watson deliver both the “No! To Sewage at Sea!” Petition and Complaint file on the sewage discharge into Western Beach area to the relevant sectors within the European Commission.

The ESG shall today support beach users and concerned citizens at an information stall to inform people about this problem and also help promote the action being taken on our behalf by Mr Watson in Brussels.

The stall will be set up outside the Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned during 1.00pm to 2.30pm.