CAMPAIGNERS fight- ing for justice for Llanelli's decimated cocklers have accused the Welsh Assembly Govern- ment of secrecy over pollution in the Burry Estuary.
A legal battle which could cost the Government millions of pounds in fines to Europe is in its early stages.
Now WAG officials have turned down requests from Carmarthenshire councillor Bill Thomas for a copy of Europe's reply to the British Government's argument.
An Assembly official wrote in explanation of the decision to reject the Freedom of Information request: "Subjecting the process to public scrutiny at this stage makes it substantially more difficult for them to do so (shift their stance), because publicly declared positions generally become more entrenched.
"I consider that disclosure of the UK Government's reply to the European Commission would cause substantial harm to the UK Government's relationship with the European Commission which needs to exist during these sensitive and difficult negotiations."
The decision has been slammed by Llanelli MP Nia Griffith.
She said: "There is a real issue of urgency and we do want the European Comm- ission to investigate as speedily and as thoroughly as it can.
"I'm dismayed if there is a lack of transparency because I think it is very important that we face up to the problems and get them put right.
"I don't think sweeping things under the carpet is a good thing, but what I really want to see is progress and I want to see a report so we can understand what's happened,'' she added.
Llanelli councillor Bill Thomas said: "The loss to the cockle industry is well over �20 million, much of this is a loss to the export trade.
"To the cockle gatherers these losses threaten their very existence, yet their campaign is about the damage that the environment will suffer and the possibilities of illnesses amongst children who use the beaches known to suffer from sewage pollution."
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