Oil Disaster

In January 1996, the Oil tanker 'Sea Empress' ran aground in the entrance to Milford Heaven spilling 72,000 tons of oil. Ever since I was a boy we have holidayed in Dale, a village just around the headland from the spill.

I don't have a big passion for wildlife but the coastline and countryside has become so familiar and friendly it was hard to believe it could be changed forever. The TV brought home to me just how futile mankind's attempt to undo the damage was. Visiting a couple of months later, the sand and shale beach at Dale was being scooped up by a mechanical digger and taken to the car park where a cement mixer was used as a washing machine. One year on and I am pleased to say apart from a slight whiff of oil, the beaches seem back to normal. Of course the ecology of the area has been devastated for years to come but as the effects are so long term they don't bother the average holiday maker like myself . In 1993 the Donaldson inquiry following the 'Braer' oil spill made recommendations, these were not followed and no one is concerned until the next disaster. It has been left to Friends of the Earth to drag this topic back into the news to make sure we do learn by our mistakes. I shall try and keep an eye on developments, unless of course I'm on holiday without a care in the world.