Wendy WilliamsBy Jon Clarke
THE opposition party has joined demands for action over the Western Beach sewage problem, which it fears is getting worse.
The GSLP/Liberal party insists a hotel development in La Linea could cause further pollution on the beach, which has already been indefinitely shut due to health issues.
It insists that the sewage outflow for the new 265-room Spanish hotel must not be allowed to connect to the existing drainage system, which is already causing problems.
“These works have the potential to worsen the sewage contamination problem,” said a spokesman.
“It must be fully investigated before such work is completed.”
It comes after a series of protests were organised by Gibraltar’s Environmental Safety Group (ESG).
Two weeks ago Gibraltar’s MEP Graham Watson handed in a complaint about the problem to the European Commission.
He said: “We have a tough battle ahead of us but protecting the environment is a concern to us all.”
The concerns come after a storm drain from La Linea marina was apparently diverted to flow out near Western Beach last summer.
Further investigation suggested that a number of other buildings in La Linea were also connecting their sewage outflow pipes to storm drains.
But, the liberals insist the government failed to act in time and only finally admitted to the problem earlier this year, having shut the beach to the public.
It has recently emerged that a series of pipes have already been laid for the hotel.
“The government should act now to ensure the problem does not become worse,” continued the spokesman.
Spain is very quick to accuse Gibraltar of any number of crimes, which it does for internal propaganda purposes. The true fact is that Gibraltar is at the receiving end of hostility from Spanish authorities and businesses, be this restricting the freedom of the movement of people or by poisoning our air (CEPSA Refinery) or the sea.