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Introducing the location of your A Level fieldwork

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(Image: Bridgend County Borough Council)

Plans for a Metro-link development have been accepted as part of the ongoing development in Porthcawl.

The proposed four-bay bus terminus and building put forward by Bridgend County Borough Council will be built along The Portway, Porthcawl, next to Salt Lake car park.

The bus station will join a host of plans proposed for the Waterfront regeneration in Porthcawl, including a new Aldi supermarket.
Read more: Find all the latest news in Porthcawl here
Currently, a bus interchange exists along John Street in Porthcawl with a number of shelters and laybys, however, it does not currently serve as a bus station for the town.

In an independent report by Asbri Transport Ltd, a Welsh transport planning practice, this current location was described as "disconnected from the main attractions of Porthcawl".

Details of the new enclosure include "extensive glazed areas and a curved roof, which incorporates a green roof", a rainwater garden, a drinking fountain to reduce single-use plastic waste, and both a sheltered "cycle parking" and racks for both manual and electric hire bikes.

Additionally, there will be service floor points to support pop up coffee shops or newsagents within the enclosure until the Salt Lake site regeneration is completed.

The report states: "The proposal is considered to represent a high quality and innovative development that will act to enhance public transport accessibility for a wide range of local and regional journeys that start or finish in Porthcawl.

"By providing a bespoke architecturally designed structure, the proposal is able to incorporate a range of additional internal and external design features that will both benefit future users of the facility and allow the structure to make a positive contribution to the local townscape and adjoining public realm."

The Porthcawl Metro Link was proposed as a development of the South EastWales Metro Plus initiative.

The Link will form part of the metro enhancement framework for the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal, which is seeking to develop improved links between Maesteg, Bridgend, Porthcawl and Cardiff as part of a pipeline of future transport projects.
What do you think of the plans? Let us know in the comments. Want the latest news from Bridgend County straight to your inbox? Sign up for free here

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Plans for new Metro-Link bus terminal in Porthcawl accepted

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The public transport development joins a list of regeneration projects by Salt Lake car park

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We have committed to the Net Zero 2030 target as an organisation and recognises the leadership role to enable wider Net Zero for businesses and communities in the county.

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Surfers Against Sewage * Water Quality Report 2023

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Nation focus: Wales Both Hafren Dyfrdwy and Dwr Cymru breached their permits in 2022 and they discharged for a total of 613,618 hours. That's equivalent to 25,567 continuous days of sewage discharge. Dwr Cymru is using emergency overflows (for use in catastrophic events) to release sewage.

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Will you join us as a member, and fight for a thriving ocean? The blue planet you love is dying. Our entire way of life is under threat. But there is always hope. You can help us run change-making, ocean-saving campaigns, by giving vital funds to run protests, drive petitions, and fight for...

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Use our real-time map to track sewage discharge and pollution risks around the UK.

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Final estimates of UK territorial greenhouse gas emissions.

Documents

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Details

This publication provides the final estimates of UK territorial greenhouse gas emissions going back to 1990. Figures for all years since 1990 have been revised since the last publication to incorporate methodological improvements and new data, so the estimates presented here supersede previous ones.

Estimates are presented by source in February of each year. They are updated in March of each year to include estimates with energy supply emissions on an end-user basis, and in June to include estimates by Standard Industrial Classification ( SIC).

These statistics covers emissions that occur within the UK's borders. When emissions are reported by source, emissions are attributed to the sector that emits them directly. When emissions are reported by end-user, emissions from energy supply are reallocated in accordance with where the end-use of the energy occurred. This reallocation of emissions is based on a modelling process. For example, all the carbon dioxide produced by a power station is allocated to the power station when reporting on a source basis. However, when applying the end-user method, these emissions are reallocated to the users of this electricity, such as domestic homes or large industrial users.

DESNZ does not estimate emissions outside the UK associated with UK consumption, however the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs publishes estimates of the UK's carbon footprint annually.

For the purposes of reporting, greenhouse gas emissions are allocated into a small number of broad, high-level sectors known as Territorial Emissions Statistics sectors, which are as follows: electricity supply, fuel supply, domestic transport, buildings and product uses, industry, agriculture, waste, and land use land use change and forestry ( LULUCF). These sectors have this year replaced the National Communication sectors used previously in these statistics, more information about this change is included in the statistical release.

These high-level sectors are made up of a number of more detailed sectors, which follow the definitions set out by the International Panel on Climate Change ( IPCC), and which are used in international reporting tables which are submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) every year.

This is a National Statistics publication and complies with the Code of Practice for Statistics.

Please check our frequently asked questions or email GreenhouseGas.Statistics@energysecurity.gov.uk if you have any questions or comments about the information on this page.

Thank you for your feedback

Report a problem with this page

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Final UK greenhouse gas emissions national statistics: 1990 to 2022

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Final estimates of UK territorial greenhouse gas emissions.

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Porthcawl, Bridgend, United Kingdom Air Quality Index | AccuWeather

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Localized Air Quality Index and forecast for Porthcawl, Bridgend, United Kingdom. Track air pollution now to help plan your day and make healthier lifestyle decisions.

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Businesses in Porthcawl are being asked to take a collective stand to support the environment by cutting down on single-use plastics.

In a move to help make Porthcawl a plastic-free town, Bridgend County Borough Council has teamed up with Porthcawl Town Council and Surfers Against Sewage to call on local businesses to stop using at least three plastic items.

Plastic straws, bottles and tops, cutlery, sauce sachets, drinking cups and lids, bags, as well as other on-the-go packaging are all among the biggest offenders when it comes to littering, and too many of them are damaging the planet after finding their way into the world's oceans.

A dozen businesses have already signed up to do their bit. Among those taking action are Finnegans Fish Bar who have started using paper bags instead of plastic ones, while the Side Walk Café and the Cosy Corner restaurant have stopped using plastic straws.

The Side Walk Café has also stopped using plastic cutlery, plastic stirrers and sauce sachets.

I'm only a small independent so there's a limit to what I can do alone, but I'm really happy to do my bit and help reduce the reliance on single-use plastics.
Claire Wootton, owner of The Side Walk Café

It is only by taking concrete, collective action that we can stop the flood of plastic pollution from overwhelming our world.

A community group Plastic Free Porthcawl has already been formed, as well as Keeping Porthcawl Tidy and various other volunteer groups who care about our environment, so there is a real desire to champion this cause and make Porthcawl one of the first plastic-free communities in Wales.

A number of businesses are taking small steps to making a big difference, and I'm really hopeful that lots more will follow suit soon.
Councillor Hywel Williams, Bridgend County Borough Council's Deputy Leader

Bridgend County Borough Council will also soon be inviting Porthcawl businesses to attend a free workshop where they can discover more about the importance of reducing the use of polystyrene and plastics.

The local authority is also keen to encourage more businesses to sign up to the 'Refill' app which shows where people can fill up their reusable bottles with free tap water.

An excessive amount of unnecessary plastic is currently being used across the world. Surveys carried out by schoolchildren earlier this year revealed that plastic is the most commonly-littered material found on Porthcawl's streets and beaches.

Even if the plastic waste wasn't dropped on a beach, it can often end up there because rainwater and wind carries it from the streets into streams, rivers and drains, which all lead to the ocean. Once in the sea, plastic decomposes very slowly, breaking down in to tiny pieces known as micro plastics that can be incredibly damaging to sea life.

The old mantra of 'reduce, re-use, recycle' is hugely important here. We must choose to recycle our plastic items wherever possible, carry a re-usable bottle for filling up water on the go, and reduce how much single-use plastic we get through in our daily lives.
Councillor Hywel Williams, Bridgend County Borough Council's Deputy Leader

To find out more about the ambitions to make Porthcawl a plastic-free town, please call Bridgend County Borough Council on 01656 643452 or email cleanupthecounty@bridgend.gov.uk. For more information about the Refill app, please visit https://refill.org.uk

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Businesses can help make Porthcawl a plastic-free town

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Businesses in Porthcawl are being asked to take a collective stand to support the environment by cutting down on single-use plastics.

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Consider the carbon cycle at a local scale.

Carbon cycle by Climatesafety / CC BY.

What questions do geographers ask?

You can ask geographical questions about anywhere. Photographs, map views and Google Earth views can help you. Here are some examples.

Epping Forest by Matthew Black / CC BY.

Can you estimate the size of carbon stores in the trees, litter and deadwood in 1 square kilometre of woodland?

Can you estimate the size of carbon fluxes in 1 square kilometre of woodland?

What are the links between the carbon cycle and the water cycle at this location?

Rivington Moor (Lancashire) by Rich Burkmar.

Research questions

Sub questions

An investigation into the stocks and fluxes of carbon in area x (e.g. a small area of woodland, an area of peat bog)

How large are the carbon stock of plants, litter and deadwood, and soil? How large are the carbon fluxes driven by processes such as photosynthesis, respiration and soil erosion?

Why does the rate of atmospheric carbon sequestration differ between areas x and y? (e.g. coniferous vs deciduous woodland, drained vs undrained areas of peatland)

What are the main differences between areas x and y? How large is the carbon flux driven by the process of photosynthesis in each of the two areas? Is there any evidence that the rate of atmospheric carbon squestration has changed over time?

What is the impact of land use change in area x (e.g. clear felling / afforestation / scrub clearance) on fluvial carbon flux?

How large are the carbon stocks and atmospheric carbon fluxes in area x and a control area which has not undergone land use change? How and why is there a difference in fluvial carbon flux between the two areas?

Can you estimate the size of carbon stores and fluxes in an area of peatland?

What is the carbon content of water draining into streams around this peatland?

What are the links between the carbon cycle and the water cycle at this location?

The UK National Ecosystem Assessment is an up-to-date analysis of the value of the natural environment in Britain, including the carbon cycle.

Specialised concept

Research question or sub question

System

An investigation into the stocks and fluxes in the carbon cycle for a small area

System

Is the peatland at area x a carbon source or a carbon sink?

Mitigation and adaptation

How does peatland restoration at x mitigate against flooding downstream?

What could you investigate by fieldwork?

Specialised geographical concepts

A good way to demonstrate challenge in your choice of research question and/or sub questions is to consider one or more of the specialised geographical concepts. Here are a few suggestions:

Choosing a fieldwork location

Although fieldwork on the carbon cycle can be carried out anywhere, it's best to concentrate on a small area that you can easily walk all around, such as a woodland, peat bog or heather moorland. This should help you complete a more manageable field investigation.

Woodland Trust woods are found throughout the UK, are free to visit, and are generally open-access throughout. Some of the woods are small (under 2 hectares) and fairly new (planted within the last 20 years), and will have online data on planting date and management.

Many Forestry Commission woods are also free to visit and have open access.

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Consider the carbon cycle at a local scale. You can ask geographical questions about anywhere. Photographs, map views and Google Earth views can help you. Here are some examples. Can you estimate the size of carbon stores in the trees, litter and deadwood in 1 square kilometre of woodland?

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Robins and Davies, 2016 - https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/513064/1/Hydrogeology%20of%20Wales.pdf

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Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) webmasterdefra.gsi.gov.uk

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Interactive monitoring networks map - Defra, UK

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Use the interactive map below to explore different UK monitoring networks. The map shows the current sites within the network selected. Information about the selected network is shown below the map.

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Open Research Europe | Open Access Publishing Platform

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Open Research Europe | Open Access Publishing Platform

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An official website of the European UnionAn official EU website

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According to Wales Online, Porthcawl is set to become the first plastic free town in Bridgend. Town councilor Alex Harris, who formed the group Plastic Free Porthcawl said, "It's something I'm passionate about. I want to try and reduce the plastic used in the town... with a view to getting the town accredited as plastic-free."

More than a dozen business in Porthcawl have now started to realise this is a problem and have taken plastic bags, straws, cutlery off the menu. One of the biggest fish and chips restaurant, Finnegan's in Porthcawl have now started to use paper bags instead of plastic.
Shopping in a new way?
A recent addition to Porthcawl is the Pantri Box, a zero waste, plastic free shop started by local resident Gemma Lewis. She realised when buying things for her children that she was throwing away a lot of plastic. She looked into all the dangers of this and that's when the idea came to her to that she should open her non-profit shop. A regular customer to the Pantri Box said " Gemma's is an alternative shop in Porthcawl and it is for people who care about plastic litter, someone like me."

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Oh how we like to be beside the seaside; don't we? The plastic problem facing our coastal town (Wales) - Young Reporters for the Environment

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YRE Competition 2020 Litter Less Campaign Article 11-15 years old It's a beautiful Spring day in the Welsh seaside town of Porthcawl. The sun is shining, the smell of freshly cooked fish and chips hangs on the breeze and the beach is full...of plastic.

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air pollution campaign 2021-23

Joseph Carter, Chair of Healthy Air Cymru and Head of Asthma UK & British Lung Foundation Wales, said re: Welsh Govt white paper:

"Air pollution is an invisible killer that sadly affects all of us. All parties in the Senedd committed to a Clean Air Act in their manifestos and it is now important they deliver this. We need to take radical steps to tackle air pollution and this legislation will give us all the right to breathe.'

"However, the enacting this legislation is far too slow."

As an example, the South Wales community cooperative (founded by Sustainable Wales), volunteer run SUSSED is situated in the centre of Porthcawl town and some drivers 'temporarily park' leaving engines running directly outside the shop entrance. The gases are flowing into the shop and also affect people running street stalls. Shop staff wish to draw attention to the dangerous air quality they are exposed to daily from exhaust fumes.

Air pollution from particulates can cause lung cancer, and worsen heart and lung disease. Research has found there is no safe limit of exposure. The fumes also contribute to climate change.

Friends of the Earth
c. 40,000 early deaths per year. (More than obesity or alcohol).
Dirty air leads to worsening asthma symptoms, heart disease and even lung cancer. Air pollution has even been associated with changes in the brain linked to dementia and can lead to children growing up with smaller lungs. Find out more from FOE Cymru.

UK air information

Road traffic biggest problem. The biggest problem for air pollution is road traffic , and diesel is the worst of all.Road transport is the major source of the toxic gas nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the air we breathe. Even the most recent, Euro 6, diesel cars emit more than five times as much nitrogen oxides (NOx) as Euro 6 petrol cars.

Vehicles also produce tiny particles, known as particulate matter (PMs), that find their way deep into our lungs and some of them in to our bloodstream.

We must tackle air pollution at source - and this principally means getting the most polluting vehicles off the road and reducing road traffic.

(That's why we need people everywhere to join us to phase out diesel fuel entirely by 2025).

why is idling bad?

Idling increases the amount of exhaust fumes in the air. These fumes contain a number of harmful gasses including carbon dioxide, which is bad for the environment and contributes towards climate change, as well as a range of other harmful gasses including nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons which are linked to asthma and other lung diseases.

In December 2020 a landmark ruling, Southwark Coroner's Court found that air pollution " made a material contribution" to the tragic death of nine-year old Ella Kissi-Debrah. And aside from the devastating and tragic human impact, air pollution costs the UK economy £20 billion annually.

No matter where you live in the UK, clean air should be a basic human right, not something that has to be campaigned for. Our children should be able to take clean, safe air for granted.

Air pollution is a silent, invisible killer that is largely being ignored. But it is preventable. While toxic air is potentially harmful to everyone, the risk of exposure is greater for outdoor workers, for whom the street is their workplace. This means ambient air pollution must be fully recognised as the occupational health issue it is.

Put simply, there is no "safe" level of pollutants when it comes to the air we breathe. UK laws currently adhere to EU guidance on fine air particulates (known as PM2.5), which are four times above the World Health Organisation's PM2.5 legal maximum - and as more and more research finds health impacts of PM2.5 at lower concentrations than the EU's limits, the UK Government should look to match WHO-approved levels instead.

Children are disproportionately affected by poor air quality thanks to their higher breathing rate and greater levels of physical activity compared to adults.

our view - time for action

Sustainable Wales believes that Government legislation needs introducing quickly. SW Director Margaret Minhinnick said, "We expect tougher policies, increased monitoring, and regular air quality reviews. However, we recognise that people also need to be proactive by joining in, turning off their engines when stationary, as idling increases the amount of exhaust fumes in the air."

"An idling engine can produce up to twice as many exhaust emissions as an engine in motion". Margaret continued.

"The Covid 19 pandemic has shown us that public health belongs at the top of the political agenda. That has to start with the air we breathe. Put simply, there is no "safe" level of pollutants when it comes to the air we inhale."

Exhaust emissions contain a range of air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter. These can affect the air quality of the surrounding environment and the air we breathe.

The On Air Quality publication not only highlights the part indoor and outdoor air pollution can play in children's respiratory health, but also points to growing evidence that poor air quality contributes to brain-related health problems in children, including cognitive decline. One recent study found that exposure to air pollutants in very early life was linked to a worse change in IQ between the ages of 11 and 70.

That's the recommendation from experts in a new publication On Air Quality. The report, released by The University of Manchester's policy engagement unit, Policy@Manchester. Read the report in an online version.

Of course, the quality of the air we breathe impacts us at every age - and research even indicates that it acts as a catalyst for cognitive decline in older people.
Clean Air Day: Over a quarter of UK schools are above WHO air pollution limits
On Clean Air Day 2021, Global Action Plan released new data which found that over a quarter of all UK schools are located in areas which are above World Health Organization (WHO) air pollution limits.

"Mae peiriant segur yn gallu cynhyrchu dwywaith gymaint o allyriadau ecsôst â pheiriant sy'n symud."
Nid oes yna derfyn nac allyriad diogel. Mae ansawdd aer yn fater iechyd cyhoeddus.
oddeutu 40,000 o farwolaethau buan bob blwyddyn (mwy na gordewdra neu alcohol).

Mae nwyon ecsôst yn llifo i'n strydoedd ac i'n hysgyfaint.

Mae'r gronynnau yn gallu achosi canser yr ysgyfaint, gwaethygu clefydau'r galon ac anadlu fel y fogfa yn gysylltiedig â dementia a gall arwain at ysgyfaint llai mewn plant a hyd yn oed gostwng IQ.
Mae'r llygryddion anweladwy hyn hefyd yn cyfrannu at newid hinsawdd.
Rydym angen deddfwriaeth frys a mwy llym gan wleidyddion. Mewn cynllunio, polisïau iechyd cyhoeddus a'r amgylchedd.

Ond mae gennym rôl fel dinasyddion i weithredu hefyd!

second event on 2 July 2021, with volunteers, Sarah Murphy MS, Margaret Minhinnick; ITV news coverage of the issues

Download various resources
press

Image pack for press etc. coverage from the 25 June Event. 11.7MB zip archive of Jpgs (right hand click and save as).

images, flyers etc. resources for your campaign

Updated 2023

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air pollution campaign 2021-23 Joseph Carter, Chair of Healthy Air Cymru and Head of Asthma UK & British Lung Foundation Wales, said re: Welsh Govt white paper: "Air pollution is an invisible killer that sadly affects all of us. All parties in the Senedd committed to a Clean Air Act in their manifestos and it is now important they deliver this.

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Water companies and the Welsh government have a duty to protect public health from sewage overflows, campaigners have said.

Untreated sewage flowed into the sea last week, causing the closure of two beaches at Porthcawl, Bridgend county.

Welsh Water said having two incidents on the wettest day since May showed the system was getting better.

The Welsh government said it has committed £40m to improve the situation over the next three years.

But campaigners said that was not good enough.

"This is people's lives you know: it's frightening," Wendy Broom, a co-founder of the cold water swimming group Newton Buoyant Bluetits told BBC Radio Wales.

Ms Broom said her group of swimmers learned about the closures only when another campaign group, Surfers Against Sewage, got in touch.

"It's all voluntary and this is about a duty of care to public health," she said, "The whole system just needs tightening up and being much more assertive."

Welsh Water is currently consulting on a 25-year plan to prevent combined sewer overflows (CSOs), where sewage is released into the environment to prevent it from backing up into peoples' homes.

"We want this all to stop and Welsh Water needs to raise the profile of that plan so we can increase engagement with interested groups like surfers and swimmers," Ms Broom said.

She said the problem was the cost: an estimated £9bn-14bn to upgrade Wales's ageing sewer system.

"It's going to take time... however, somehow or other this is really crucial that this gets resolved," she said. "There is this duty of care for public health."

Surfer and author Tom Anderson said the argument that it was either pumping it into the sea or back into houses was "a trick".

"There is a third option and that is to spend money on our sewage infrastructure," he said.

"Finding out that the first waves in weeks were accompanied by a flotilla of sewage, it put a lot of people off, it was a really unpleasant idea," he added. "There were people posting photographs of all sorts of disgusting-looking sludges on the shoreline and most people stayed (away), which is something I haven't seen since the coronavirus."

Gail Davies-Welsh, chief executive of Afonydd Cymru, a charity which campaigns for clean rivers in Wales, said the CSOs are only part of the problem.

Recent reporting on phosphate compliance in Special Areas of Conservation rivers in Wales showed that CSOs contribute only 2-3% of phosphate, she said.

Damaging plant and animal life

"That's because there is a far greater impact from agricultural discharges and pollution and also waste water treatment works discharges," Ms Davies-Welsh said.

Phosphates are naturally occurring minerals found in human and animal waste.

They are vital for plant growth but at high concentrations in water bodies, phosphates can cause dramatic growth of algae, which leads to depleted oxygen levels, damaging aquatic plant and animal life.

The Senedd's environment committee is among those calling for action.

Delyth Jewell, the Plaid Cymru MS for South Wales East, who sits on the committee, called it a "disgusting situation".

"That obviously is going to be having a terrible impact on the environment, but also on environmental health, public health. People are afraid to go swimming in the sea because they've worried about sewage."

Dwr Cymru Welsh Water argues that it has invested heavily in recent years - including in a monitoring system on its storm overflows so that data on spills is recorded and shared.

The debate around this is slightly different in Wales too because it's a not-for-profit water company, unlike its English counterparts.

Having said that, there's no doubt that the idea of CSOs being used infrequently as a last resort in extreme weather to stop sewage flooding our homes is being challenged by climate change.

There were over 100,000 incidents in Wales in 2020 alone so calls for action will continue to grow.

The Welsh government set up a task force on the issue, which reported its initial plan last month.

Accepting that a multi-billion pound overhaul of our sewage system is unaffordable, it places a heavy emphasis on investing in so-called nature-based solutions. These would capture rainwater and slow its flow into sewers so they are overwhelmed less often.

The Welsh government said it had committed £40m to improving the situation over the next three years and established a new task force, set to publish recommendations for action on CSOs imminently.

In a statement, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water emphasised that some parts of south Wales saw their wettest day since May last Tuesday.

Despite this, only two CSOs spilled into designated bathing waters. This is what they're designed to do, the company said, adding that the spills were compliant with their environmental permits.

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Porthcawl: Sewage overflows call after beach closures

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Campaigners call the sewage problem frightening, after swimmers are warned off two popular beaches.

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Porthcawl Surf School released a statement on their Facebook page saying that they've been forced to cancel all lessons today and tomorrow (August 18 & 19) because of raw sewage being discharged into the sea.

The campaign group Surfers Against Sewage, which monitors the dumping of untreated waste water around Britain, has sent a warning out to people hoping to enter water in Porthcawl because of sewage discharged at both Rest Bay and Sandy Bay.

In their statement, Porthcawl Surf School said that "Welsh Water has dumped raw sewage into the Severn Estuary. Particularly affected is Rest Bay and Sandy Bay. Due to the risk to health, we have decided to close the surf school on Thursday and Friday. We have canceled all our surf lessons and will not be renting any equipment. It will take a couple of days for the pollution to be dispersed and we hope to open again for the weekend."

Most rain water enters sewers where it's combined with waste water from homes and businesses. When the capacity of these sewers is reached, for instance after heavy rain, their design means that the additional flow is discharged at certain points in the system either into rivers or the sea.

Because of the recent spell of dry weather, sudden downpours aren't absorbed as well by the ground, meaning more rainwater ends up in sewerage channels leading to the diluted effluent being discharged into rivers and the sea.

Porthcawl Surf School is open year round and provides lessons to all levels of surfers, although the summer holidays would be considered their peak period.

Anybody currently visiting Rest Bay or Sandy Bay, Porthcawl - beware. @DwrCymru is currently discharging sewage there according to the @sascampaigns Safer Seas app. pic.twitter.com/8aawB6xRDn
- Siriol (@siriolg) August 16, 2022

On Tuesday afternoon, the Surfers Against Sewage 'Safer Seas' app sent out an alert regarding the sewage discharge.

In response to comments on Twitter, Dŵr Cymru blamed the discharge of untreated waste water on heavy rain, stating: "Despite the widespread rain, only two of our combined storm overflows (CSOs) operated at designated bathing waters.

This is how they're designed to operate when the wastewater network in an area reaches capacity due to the volume of rainwater in it. The spills were compliant with our permit to operate them. 2/3
- Welsh Water (@DwrCymru) August 18, 2022

"This is how they're designed to operate when the wastewater network in an area reaches capacity due to the volume of rainwater in it. The spills were compliant with our permit to operate them.

"Also, we sent notifications to Surfers Against Sewage so that they were aware and could notify their members. We appreciate that people have concerns, but they're essential to prevent sewage water from backing up into people's properties during heavy rain."

Last year Dŵr Cymru paid three of its top executives performance-related bonuses of £931,000, nearly doubling the pay packets of chief executive Peter Perry, chief financial officer Mike Davis and executive director Chris Jones.

The performance-related bonuses were paid to the execs despite more than 100,000 instances of raw sewage being pumped into Welsh waterways over the preceding 12 months.

This article originally appeared on our sister site The National.

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One of Wales' largest surf schools closes because of sewage discharge

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One of Wales' largest surf schools has had to close its doors due to raw sewage being pumped into the sea nearby by Dŵr Cymru.

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2020

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Videos of Porthcawl's Opinions on Climate Change

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Videos of Porthcawl's Opinions on Climate Change

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Sustainable Wales is a grassroots UK registered charity; we promote, encourage and enable community-based sustainable development and culture. www.sustainablewales.org.uk Our charity works to promote and encourage the sustainable development agenda, seeking ways to revitalise the local economy. We challenge waste, pollution and social disconnection. We hope to inspire people to share ideas and get involved. We seek social, environmental and economic change.

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Fairtrade, Local & Ethical Goods
Just up from the bandstand in Porthcawl, you'll discover SUSSED. A fabulous & ethical cornucopia of gifts, clothes, bags, accessories, unique furniture, household items, local crafts, eco cleaning products, books, plus delicious fairtrade and organic foods.
SUSSED is a fair trade community run shop in James St. Porthcawl, South Wales, founded by and supporting the charity Sustainable Wales.

We are looking for volunteers to help in the store - mornings or afternoons. Please call in and ask or contact us on 01656 783962.

Siop gymunedol masnach deg ym Mhorthcawl, De Cymru, yw SUSSED, a sefydlwyd gan yr elusen Cymru Gynaliadwy.

Rydym yn chwilio am wirfoddolwyr i helpu yn y siop - a hynny yn y bore neu'r prynhawn. Bydd hyfforddiant yn cael ei ddarparu, yn ogystal â disgowntiau ar gyfer gwirfoddolwyr! Galwch heibio, neu ffoniwch ni ar 01656 783962.

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Ethical and fairtrade store based in Porthcawl, South Wales

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A group of environmental activists turned heads with an unusual performance in Porthcawl last weekend.

With arms out-stretched, dressed head-to-toe in loose, crimson fabric, a group with ghostly white faces walked quietly through the town and waded into the sea at Coney Beach.

The performance garnered mixed reviews, with one onlooker shouting "get a job", while others joined in with what looked like a slow-motion conga line along the sea front on Saturday June 05.

Bearing a resemblance to the red-cloaked women in the Handmaid's Tale, the startling group, known as the Red Rebel Brigade, is a group of "artivists" raising awareness about climate change.

"The Red Rebel Brigade is an international performance artivist troupe dedicated to illuminating the global environmental crisis," said Curly, one of the Cardiff Red Rebels who performed in Porthcawl last week.

"They support groups and organisations who are fighting to save humanity and all species from mass extinction," she added.

The Brigade was set-up by Doug Francisco and Justine Squire from Bristol's Invisible Circus, a group of artists and performers, in April 2019 and supported the Extinction Rebellion Spring uprising in London.

There are now members world-wide, including the Cardiff group, which was formed in October 2019. Their performance in Porthcawl was one of many that took place across the UK ahead of the G7 summit in Cornwall, which focuses on global coronavirus vaccinations and climate change.

The Rebels have visited various places along the coast as part of their Make the Wave campaign, aimed at tackling environmental issues.
'Clear signal'
"It sends a really clear signal to Boris Johnson and the other delegates of the G7 nations that ordinary people in coastal communities demand more action to tackle the climate emergency, the ecological emergency, the sea-levels rising," said Curly.

"There's three million people who are predicted to be affected by annual flooding in the UK by 2050. Cardiff itself is the sixth most at risk city in the world from ocean-based flooding.

"We're urging world leaders to act now. Out politicians and our governments are failing us all at the minute and we need them to act now on the real causes of the crisis.

"We need them to act on global inequality, un-checked corporate profiteering and neo-colonialism. We're really drowning in promises and we need urgent, meaningful action to prevent climate and ecological chaos.

"Our performance in Porthcawl was to encourage curiosity and interest in people that don't know who the Rebels are already and send a really strong message making the wave across the UK."

She said the red outfits worn by the Rebels are part of the aesthetic of the group bit also "symbolise the common blood we share with all species that unite us and make us one".

"We move as one, we act as one and we feel as one. We empathise with our surroundings, we're forgiving, sympathetic, compassionate and understanding.

"Through peaceful performance we divert, distract, delight and inspire the people who watch us. It starts important discussions and it can challenge prejudice."

Contrary to some assumptions, the Rebels are "everyday, regular people", said Curly.

"Sometimes as artivists you do have people saying 'have a wash', 'get a job' but I have a full-time job. It's open for anybody to join if they'd like to.

"We are all over 18... if anybody is interested in becoming a Red Rebel and being part of the performances they can get in touch with us. There are troupes globally so you can get involved wherever you are."

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Climate change activist turn heads with unusual performance

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Hannah Neary, local democracy reporter A group of environmental activists turned heads with an unusual performance in Porthcawl last weekend. With arms out-stretched, dressed head-to-toe in loose, crimson fabric, a group with ghostly white faces walked quietly through the town and waded into the sea at Coney Beach.

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Public Attitudes to Climate Change Wales

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Public Attitudes to Climate Change Wales

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National Infrastructure Commission for Wales (NICW) launches research project into climate change and engagement with the public – Cynnal Cymru – Sustain Wales

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This week NICW has launched a new climate research project run by Cynnal Cymru to explore how climate change is communicated to communities. Over five months, the research team will analyse current trends and meet with communities to ultimately help public bodies engage better with the public to manage long-term climate risks.