CAUSEWAYS and bridges are important links between island communities and the
mainland. But while bridges supported on pillars tend to be friendly to marine
life, causeways built of solid rock can be a problem. Seabed habitats depend on
coastal currents providing nutrients and preventing the build-up of silt
deposits. Solid rock causeways block off these refreshing currents, with the
result that many rich seabed habitats are killed off.
The west coast of Scotland is studded with numerous small islands, some with
causeways, a few with bridges. Now there鈥檚 talk of new causeways serving
offshore islands in the Western Isles鈥擫ewis, Harris, North and South Uist
and Benbecula. Fisheries folk are becoming concerned, because many of the seabed
areas involved provide nursery habitats for inshore fisheries. If these are
allowed to silt up it will devastate the local fisheries, they claim.
I am certain that Scottish Natural Heritage is aware of the problem on its
western seaward doorstep. However, we don鈥檛 know as much about marine habitats
as we do about terrestrial ones. It can therefore be difficult to get a full
understanding of the likely marine impact of, say, a causeway, in the time
usually allowed for consultation on development plans. It needs to be made
clear, during the forthcoming committee stage of MP John Randall鈥檚 bill on
marine wildlife conservation
(快猫短视频, 18 August 2001, p 51),
that impact studies must be undertaken early in any planning process that could
affect sea life.
Advertisement
NATIONS that signed the 1987 Montreal Protocol agreed recently to tighten up
further on the use of ozone-depleting substances (ODS). As a consequence, a
European Union regulation came into effect throughout the EU on 1 January making
it illegal to use chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as refrigerants. Not only must all
new fridges use ozone-friendly refrigerants, CFCs can now not even be used in
the maintenance of old fridges.
In Britain alone, householders dump hundreds of thousands of fridges each
year, which tend slowly to leak CFCs and add to the problem of ozone depletion.
Soon such unwanted appliances will have to be dumped at special sites that the
government is to set up, where there will be the appropriate technology to
remove CFCs鈥攊ncluding coolants and those from the refrigerator鈥檚
insulation foam. Householders will no longer be allowed to dump old fridges at
the local scrapyard, unless it has the know-how to remove the CFCs safely.
Angry constituents are besieging MPs because they don鈥檛 want smelly
refrigerator dumps outside their front windows. However much we MPs try to
convince them that it鈥檚 all in aid of protecting the world鈥檚 ozone layer, this
cuts little ice with many electors.
In November, Annette Brooke, Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and Poole,
asked ministers at the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
(DEFRA) what measures they are considering for the public disposal of
refrigerators.
Michael Meacher, the environment minister, replied that Britain does not at
present have the facilities capable of handling ODS waste, including the CFCs
from insulation foam. His department anticipates that the technology will be up
and running in the spring. Meanwhile, it is finalising measures to manage waste
refrigeration equipment. DEFRA would shortly publish its advice on the storage
of the refrigeration equipment and its funding, he said.
I don鈥檛 think many people will be too pleased with this reply. The government
should be further ahead with its plans.