Local campaigners from across West Dorset joined Chris Loder MP at the latest Clean Rivers of West Dorset (CROWD) meeting at Wootton Fitzpaine on the 23rd June to receive updates on river water quality across the constituency and to hold to account Wessex Water and the Environment Agency present.
At the meeting, Mr Loder outlined the significant progress which has been made since the previous taskforce in April, including the outcome of numerous meetings with South West Water to bring forward £20 million to clean up the River Lim in Lyme Regis. Mr Loder also outlined his work within the government to find a solution to the nutrient neutrality issues and the disruption to housing and planning. Other positive news included the Environment Agency’s launch in June of the Chalk Stream Restoration Strategy Implementation Plan; and Wessex Water’s planned investment of £500 million in the late autumn to address storm overflow infrastructure. Reflecting on the meeting, the local MP commented:
“Since our last meeting in April, there has been considerable momentum from all parties involved in CROWD to clean up West Dorset’s rivers. It is especially clear that citizens’ data of our rivers plays an integral role in the chances of our bathing waters being (re-)designated; the more data collected and submitted, the more likely we can make progress and I would like to thank all those involved, particularly Andrew Carey from Charmouth and Jim Flory from the Environment Agency.”
