Environment Minister Huw Irranca-Davies MP has kept his promise to Oliver Heald to visit local endangered rivers, the Beane and the Mimram.
The Minister held a round table meeting at Watton at Stone Community Centre to hear first hand of the problems with the rivers running dry and then went to see both rivers.
At the Watton meeting were: Oliver Heald, DEFRA Minister Huw Irranca-Davies MP, the Environment Agency’s Senior Water Sources Planner Alastair Wilson, Charles Rangeley-Wilson and Tom Le Quesne of WWF, Tony Last, Tony Langford and Robin Cole of the Friends of the Mimram and Ian Knight, Andrew Bott and Dave Stimpson of the River Beane Restoration Association. The Ministers’ team included his top rivers policy adviser.
Presentations were given by Charles Rangeley-Wilson of the WWF, Dave Stimpson of the River Beane Restoration Association (RBRA) and Robin Cole of the Friends of the Mimram and warden of the Tewinbury Nature Reserve.
The visits were to a) the River Beane close to the Whitehall Pumping station, which provides the water supply for Stevenage and b) the River Mimram at the Ornamental Bridge next to the Nature Reserve and the B1000.
Commenting Oliver said, “I am delighted that the Minister came to see for himself and that the local groups were able to explain how water stressed our rivers are. I am closely involved with the WWF “Rivers on the Edge Campaign” and I was grateful to Charles Rangeley-Wilson for explaining the national context so well. At Parliament 104 MPs have signed my rivers motion and we will be calling for a debate in the new session of Parliament.
Photo from left to right: Ian Knight, Tom Le Quesne, Huw Irranca-Davies MP, Oliver Heald MP, Dave Stimpson, Alastair Wilson, Andrew Bott, Martin Jee
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Contact: Martin Jee, Parliamentary Assistant to Oliver Heald MP, 020 7219 4478
Notes to Editors:
1. The WWF Campaign
WWF's Rivers on the Edge project aims to restore UK rivers on the edge of ruin. Using three of the UK's iconic and unique chalk streams –the Itchen, the Kennet and the Lee tributaries – through a combination of policy work and public facing campaigns Rivers on the Edge will help people recognise the importance of rivers to the UK and identify the connection between their local rivers and the water they use in the home.
2. Oliver Heald MP’s motion
PROTECTION OF RIVER HABITATS
104 Signatures
29.04.2009
Heald, Oliver
That this House believes that the chalk rivers of England provide a unique habitat for a rich diversity of fish, riparian creatures and rare plant species which is under serious threat; expresses concern at the recent Environment Agency finding that less than 20 per cent. of the rivers and lakes of England and Wales are currently at good status due to growing pollution, over-abstraction of water and habitat destruction; and calls on the Government to develop a plan to protect and enhance the condition of rivers, including the chalk rivers, setting firm and demanding targets.