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Surfers Against Sewage: Paddle-Out Protest Coming To Appley Beach

"Clean seas should be a right not a privilege."

That's the message from the latest Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) charity campaign launched to resolve the issue of sewage discharge into the sea — one of major pertinence to the Isle of Wight.

Twelve Island beaches were listed among the 83 worst in the UK for sewage discharge in 2022.

Volunteers backed by SAS will coordinate paddle-out protests against sewage pollution at Brighton Pier and Appley Beach in Ryde on May 20 — part of a series events occurring simultaneously across the UK.

Surfers Against Sewage is demanding an end to sewage discharges into UK bathing waters and a 90% reduction in sewage discharges by 2030.

Josh Harris, Head of Communications at Surfers Against Sewage, said:

“Last year water companies paid out a combined £1 billion to their shareholders while dumping sewage into UK waterways almost 400,000 times.

"It’s time to put an end to this shameless profiteering.

"We’ve suffered decades of broken sewers because of our broken system, and now the public have had enough and are demanding an to end this sewage scandal.”

The Isle of Wight had 27,349 hours of combined storm overflows and sewage discharge from April 2022 to the end of March 2023.

The longest single duration discharges were for Sandown, Ryde and Cowes each with a single spills going for over 320 hours at each site.

The Paddle Protest takes place on May 20 at midday at Appley Tower, Ryde.

People are asked to come along, bring placards, props, surfboards, paddleboards, rafts or just to be on the beach.

An event page can be viewed online.

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