The
draft South West River Basin Management
Plan has been published by the Environment
Agency and sets out how all those with an
interest in the water environment will:
Protect and improve inland and coastal waters,
by managing land better to prevent pollution
running into rivers and lakes
Create better habitats for wildlife that
live in and around water
Cut out discharges of polluting substances
Reduce the pollution of groundwater
Ensure water is used as efficiently as possible
in homes and industry
Water quality has improved
dramatically over the last twenty years,
but there is more to do. The Environment
Agency wants to build on these improvements
and is asking the public for their views
which will help develop the Plan further
and ensure statutory agencies, private organisations,
public sector bodies and members of the
public work better together to improve the
water environment.
‘We all need to work
together and focus on making our rivers,
wetlands and coasts better places for people
and wildlife. We want people living in the
South West to tell us what they want to
achieve in the water environment and how
they think it should be done,’ said Ben
Bunting, the River Basin Programme Manager
for the Environment Agency.
‘You can learn more
about the draft River Basin Management Plan
and let us know what you think either on-line
at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wfd or
by going to your local library where there
is a copy of the plan along with a feedback
form and a pre-paid envelope so that you
can let the Environment Agency have your
views.’
The consultation period
runs until June 22 with the final Plan being
published in December.
ENDS
Notes To Editors
The Water Framework
Directive (WFD) establishes a strategic
and integrated river basin management approach
to the land and water environment. It includes
a common approach to setting environmental
objectives for all groundwater, surface
waters, estuaries and coastal waters within
the European Community. The WFD requires
Member States to draw up plans for meeting
these objectives in each River Basin District,
these are geographical areas, approximately
regional in scale and based on river catchment
areas. It is an opportunity for people and
organisations to work together to protect
and improve the quality of every aspect
of the water environment from groundwaters,
rivers and lakes to estuaries and coasts.
A River Basin Management Plan will be produced
for each river basin district, every six
years, up to 2027. The plans must state
the environmental objectives for the river
basin district, explain where different
objectives to good ecological status have
been selected (because of necessary timescales
for improvement, availability of improvement
techniques or because it is disproportionately
costly to go further), and summarise the
action plan for delivery.
+ More
The Environment Agency’s
guide to living on the edge
If you own land or property
alongside a river or other watercourse,
help is at hand thanks to a newly updated
Environment Agency guide.
If you own land or property
alongside a river or other watercourse,
help is at hand thanks to a newly updated
Environment Agency guide.
To help explain the
rights and responsibilities of owning and
living near a watercourse, otherwise known
as riparian ownership, the Environment Agency
has produced a booklet called Living on
The Edge.
If you are considering
extending your property, repairing or altering
riverbanks or carrying out any work close
to water on your property, you will need
to contact the Environment Agency first
to discuss your plans. We take many environmental
factors into consideration including flood
risk, wildlife conservation and the reshaping
of the river and landscape.
The benefits of helping
to look after the watercourse include:
• reducing the risk
of flooding
• minimising the risk of injury to you or
your neighbours and our staff who are trying
to help
• reducing the costs of the work, the money
you pay in council tax and the tax on your
wages
• improving the habitat for nature
• simply making it more attractive for everyone
Bradley Randall of the
Environment Agency said: “Our guide outlines
the rights and responsibilities for you
as an owner of a waterside property, and
also clearly explains our role and that
of other organisations with which you may
need to work. We are now writing to all
riparian owners to advise them on their
rights and responsibilities.
“If people do discard
rubbish in their watercourse, they could
face prosecution if their actions have caused
flooding and they can be liable for the
costs associated with any damage to property.
This is something we all want to avoid.
It is important that we work together with
riparian owners to protect and enhance the
natural environment of our rivers and streams
whilst reducing the risk of flooding.”
Copies of Living on
The Edge are available from the Environment
Agency web site at:
www.environment-agency.gov.uk
