Monday May 13th 2019
A sanitary towel amongst sewage in the River Esk.
Written by Stuart Forbes, Volunteer Coordinator, Mayfield & Easthouses Development Trust
MP Danielle Rowley recently spoke in the Westminster Parliament about the “environmental crisis” in Midlothian – and not just here but in Scotland – of the rivers being frequently polluted with waste which is causing suffering, poisoning and harm to wildlife and ecosystems.
Midlothian residents have a brief but unique chance to send a message to those in power that the sewage pollution of our River Esk and the constant house building when the sewers are already over-capacity is not acceptable.
A local campaign against river pollution has been nominated for an award in the SCVO Scottish Charity Awards – as a ‘Cracking Campaign’ – However, more powerfully, it could be voted to win the ‘People’s Choice’ Award. This would send a message to the Scottish Government that communities demand that sewer provision in Scotland be of a standard that does not mean sanitary towels are as common in them as fish.
Sitting alongside such heavyweight high-profile charities as the British Heart Foundation, Marie Curie Cancer and the Scottish Youth Parliament, the Mayfield and Easthouses Development Trust is showing just what a couple of activists with no budget and a lot of determination can achieve.
The Midlothian campaigners have managed to rally community groups, community councils, development trusts, and surfers, anglers, PTAs, wild-swimmers, sea kayakers, coastal partnerships, environmentalists, conservation charities, birdwatchers across Scotland to vote for this campaign – as a message to Holyrood to provide a fit for purpose sewage system for Scotland and as a message to Westminster to legislate and enforce severe action against companies who try to make profits on the back of the plastic pollution and the suffering of wildlife.
Voting only takes a moment. Voting closes on 17th May at 5pm.
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