Devon supports Cross Channel Declaration

Devon County Council has announced that it is backing a new agreement with French authorities which aims to tackle the threat of pollution from shipping incidents in the English Channel.

Following the recent death and injury of thousands of sea birds off the westcountry coast caused by the oil additive PIB (polyisobutene), Devon County Council has declared that it will sign up to the “Cross Channel Declaration”, paving the way for local authorities from both sides of the Channel to join together to press for change. It is one of six authorities supporting the agreement so far.

The declaration, being co-ordinated by the European funded CAMIS (Channel Arc Manche Integrated Strategy), which is a Franco-British co-operation project, aims to press for a change in policy and legislation to safeguard communities, coasts and seas against maritime pollution.

Devon County Council has raised concerns at the seemingly increasing number of incidents off the region’s coastline, such as the grounding of the MSC Napoli off the East Devon coast in 2007. More recently the Christos XXII and Emsstrom ran into trouble off Torbay and the MSC Flaminia exploded off the Cornish coast last Summer.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, who represents Devon County Council on the Local Government Association’s Coastal Special Interest Group, will sign the Declaration in France next month. He said: “We are determined to take a strong line on this issue, particular after witnessing first hand the consequences of the Napoli incident. We cannot simply believe that this could never happen again, so legislation and contingency plans must be improved. I shall be speaking with my French counterparts at the Cross Channel Forum in March and will be encouraging them to stand alongside us, to fight for better protection from pollution incidents.”

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Communities, said: “Devon’s coasts and seas, and the habitat they provide to wildlife, are an important asset to our communities and local economy. We cannot tolerate these damaging pollution incidents, such as the recent release of PIBs which have had such devastating effects. This declaration will enable authorities on both sides of the Channel to join forces to protect our coastline. Maritime pollution not only has a devastating impact on the environment and wildlife, but it also affects the image of our coasts as a safe and attractive place to live and visit.”

The County Council supported a Local Government Association study which made 29 recommendations on how to pressure the International Maritime Organisation and other bodies to improve legislation to reduce risk of maritime pollution and how to improve co-ordination when responding to incidents. Devon sees the Declaration as a further step forward in taking action.

The Cross Channel Declaration is in its early stages but eventually could support the lobbying of key organisations, such as the International Maritime Organisation, to provide greater safeguards against the variety of threats from shipping.