Water – What is going on?

A paper entitled ‘Water – What is going on?’ by Professor Dieter Helm was recently brought to our attention that looks at the past and current economics of the water industry and it’s privatisation, giving a very large pointer as to how and why our rivers and chalk streams are in the mess they are

Chalk stream Restoration Strategy launched

As I’m sure all readers are aware, the long awaited Chalk Stream Restoration Strategy was launched recently, with a reception at Tewin Bury Farm on the River Mimram, attended by Defra Minister Rebecca Pow MP, Tony Juniper – Natural England and Emma Boyd-Howard from the Environment Agency The strategy was written and collated by Charles

CaBA Chalk Stream Restoration Strategy Consultation

Last year Charles Rangeley-Wilson spoke to the Chalk Aquifer Alliance about his Chalkstream First proposals to restore flow to the Chilterns and other chalk streams, principally by abstracting water from our rivers further downstream and pumping it back to supply customers in the upper catchment areas. He was subsequently tasked by Rebecca Pow and Defra

Fighting for the Ems

The CAA were in correspondence recently with Friends of the Ems, a group fighting for their river in East Hampshire. Like many of us, their river’s problems are rooted in abstraction but also raise questions as to how solutions to mitigate issues in one catchment can impact or may even exacerbate them in another. This

Sarah Green v HS2

We received the following message from Paul Jennings of the River Chess Association this week…….. A friend Sarah Green has been fighting to access data relating to the impact on the aquifer of piling operations for the HS2 viaduct. After a protracted period the Judge has found in her favour. So she will get access

S&TC sends the minister a reminder

Salmon & Trout Conservation has this week issued a letter in response to Defra’s announcement on 29 March this year that the Government will bring forward measures to reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows. from their press release…… Salmon & Trout Conservation reminds Minister that law already requires her to ensure water companies deal with

Why is my river still dry?

Professor Ian Barker is Managing Director, Water Policy International and offers a personal perspective on why our chalk streams are suffering so badly, why ‘the system’ isn’t geared to their quick recovery and what you might do to help. Why is my river in such a poor state? A recurring theme in the webinars hosted

How Nature Dies

Renowned Hen Harrier campaigner, ex-RSPB Conservation Director and now Director of Wild Justice Mark Avery recently invited Alistair Gammell to write a guest blog for his website.Alistair worked for RSPB for 40 years and was closely involved in the drafting of the Birds and Habitats Directives and for growing RSPB’s international work. He was RSPB’s

CRAG Chalk Streams Summit 2020

The CRAG Chalk Streams Summit took place 16th October 2020, hosted by The Chilterns Society and attended by Defra Minister Rebecca Pow MP. You can watch the full conference below.

Philip Dunne MP launches new Bill to tackle river pollution

Rt Hon Philip Dunne MP for Ludlow, has today published his Private Member’s Bill designed to tackle river pollution from untreated sewage and improve water quality. The Sewage (Inland Waters) Bill places a duty on water companies to ensure that untreated sewage is not discharged into rivers and other inland waters. The Bill will require