Latest topics | » Thames Water live discharge mapSat Jan 21, 2023 6:32 pm by Ed Randall» Feargal Sharkey accuses Thames Water of sewage 'dumping'Fri Sep 04, 2020 4:24 pm by Ed Randall» COVID-19 - Get Fishing AgainSun Jun 07, 2020 1:04 pm by Julian Jones» Eel Trap Molesey - 2019Tue May 05, 2020 12:29 pm by Glyn Jones» GAS STOVESWed Apr 15, 2020 7:13 am by Keith Collett» Man missing in Thames at SheppertonTue Jan 21, 2020 3:27 pm by Ed Randall» Semi-Tidal Draw off 2019Mon Oct 28, 2019 9:55 pm by Ed Randall» Citizen Science forum at ZSL ~ 29th October 2019Sat Sep 28, 2019 4:19 pm by Ed Randall» Citizen Crane Forum ~ 16th and 29th October 2019Sat Sep 28, 2019 4:16 pm by Ed Randall» Tidefest match result 2019Tue Sep 10, 2019 8:50 am by Ed Randall» Closed season retained following public consultationThu Aug 22, 2019 12:20 pm by Ed Randall» Houseboat destroyed by fire in HamptonMon Aug 12, 2019 9:30 am by Ed Randall» Local tackle shopsFri Jul 05, 2019 1:16 pm by Trevor Rowe» New Season, New Licence...Fri Jun 14, 2019 12:24 am by Julian Jones» FORCE Clean-Up in Donkey Wood ~ Sun 14th April 2019Sun Apr 21, 2019 8:19 am by Ed Randall» The Big one - Farnborough 23rd-24th March 2019Sun Feb 10, 2019 11:30 am by Keith Collett» Thames So Full Of Cocaine It’s Pranging Out London’s EelsTue Jan 22, 2019 9:27 am by Trevor Rowe» "Citizen Crane" project - sampling datesThu Jan 10, 2019 8:51 am by Ed Randall» New Members: Real Names pleaseThu Jan 10, 2019 8:36 am by Ed Randall» Semi-Tidal draw-off 2018Sat Oct 27, 2018 5:44 pm by Ed Randall» Thames Water Blitz - 19th/20th October 2018Tue Oct 02, 2018 7:21 pm by Ed Randall» Citizen Crane Forum ~ 26th October 2018Sat Aug 25, 2018 7:41 pm by Ed Randall» Invitation to the 2018 Eel forum ~ 15th OctoberSat Aug 25, 2018 7:38 pm by Ed Randall» Mystery of dead eels found in riversSat Aug 25, 2018 6:43 pm by Ed Randall» Eel Trap Clean Up/ training 5th May 2018 10amSat Aug 25, 2018 6:40 pm by Ed Randall» A new address for 2017 ~ forum.rivertac.orgSun Aug 19, 2018 12:48 pm by Admin» Hampton Riviera removedThu Aug 16, 2018 10:41 pm by Ed Randall» Roads closed everywhere ~ July 29th/30th ~ bike raceMon Aug 06, 2018 10:14 am by John LeSurf» *Thames Tunnel (Tideway Tunnel)*Wed Jul 18, 2018 9:56 am by John LeSurf» new hotel at hampton court means loss of fishingWed Jul 04, 2018 1:26 pm by Ed Randall |
| | Water Challenge Issued to Government | |
| | Author | Message |
---|
Admin Admin
Posts : 513 Join date : 2009-12-27
| Subject: Water Challenge Issued to Government Fri Nov 12, 2010 2:09 am | |
| Water Challenge Issued to Government
A unique coalition of 14 leading environmental organisations* including the Angling Trust has issued a joint call to the Coalition Government to take action on wasted water, pollution and wetland wildlife.
The new Blueprint for Water is published today and sets out how the Government could ensure the health and sustainability of England’s water environment by 2015.
While some positive moves have been made, there is much more to be done. The Government needs to take its responsibilities to the water environment seriously if it is to deliver on its promise of being the greenest government ever.
The report sets out proposals to reduce pollutants in our water environment and to make polluters pay for the damage they cause. It calls for the statutory limit on fines for polluters to be lifted and for greater enforcement of existing anti-pollution laws.
There is a call for fairer water pricing so bills reflect the amount of water households use, as with most other developed countries. The overall volume of water consumed needs to reduced by 20 per cent through less wastage, and abstraction licences should be revoked where they damage the ecology of rivers, lakes and wetlands.
Farmers can play a vital role in ensuring healthy rivers and wetlands and the Blueprint call for more EU and UK Government money to be available for payments to farmers for environmental schemes on their land. Reducing pesticide and fertiliser use, restoring peat bogs and tackling over-grazing can all help improve water quality and wildlife.
Rob Cunningham, Chair of the Blueprint for Water coalition, said: “We all rely on water in our homes and businesses, on our farms and in our factories. It is also vital for a wide range of wildlife from fish and invertebrates to wading birds and mammals. It is a precious resource but all too often we take it for granted.
“A lot has happened since we launched the first Blueprint for Water four years ago but much more needs to be done by 2015 if we are going to ensure that our waters are clean, our wildlife is healthy and that we are best-placed to meet the impacts of climate change. We are resetting the challenge for a new decade and a new administration – as well as committing to actions of our own.
“Industry, Government, conservation bodies and the wider society all have a role to play in creating a sustainable water environment. We know this can be done and we know what steps need to be taken to achieve it – now we need to see real commitment from decision makers to ensure it happens.”
The pressure on rivers, wetlands, lakes and ponds has seen wading birds like curlew and snipe decline by up to 60 per cent, eel populations have been devastated and water voles, white clawed crayfish, Atlantic salmon and a host of other species are also threatened.
Habitats and historic assets, which rely on clean and healthy water supplies are being lost from our landscape. Ninety per cent of raised lowland bogs have been lost in the past 100 years and there are 75 per cent fewer ponds and floodplain grasslands in the UK. Government figures also show that more than two thirds of river and England and Wales are failing European targets for water quality.
* The Blueprint for water coalition is made of up the following 14 organisations; • Amphibian and Reptile Conservation • Angling Trust • Association of Rivers Trusts • Buglife – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust • Council of British Archaeology • Marine Conservation Society • National Trust • Pond Conservation • RSPB • Salmon & Trout Association • The Wildlife Trusts • Waterwise • Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust • WWF-UK
| |
| | | James Page
Posts : 2152 Join date : 2010-01-21
| Subject: Re: Water Challenge Issued to Government Fri Nov 12, 2010 6:55 am | |
| like all new initiatives, it sounds good, but dont hold your breath
DONT FORGET THE EUROPEAN GOVERNMENT IS TAKING OUR GOVERNMENT TO COURT, FOR ALLOWING THAMES WATER TO PUT 32 BILLION LITRES OF RAW SEWAGE IN OUR RIVER EVERY YEAR
THIS POLLUTION HAS BEEN LEGITIMATELY GOING ON SINCE THE 1980'S, NO MATTER WHAT POLITICAL PARTY IS IN POWER
| |
| | | Steve Holmes
Posts : 2435 Join date : 2010-01-28
| Subject: Re: Water Challenge Issued to Government Fri Nov 12, 2010 10:01 am | |
| - Admin wrote:
- It calls for the statutory limit on fines for polluters to be lifted
If only that bit gets done it'll be worth it. | |
| | | Richard Crimp Admin
Posts : 1875 Join date : 2010-01-20 Age : 57 Location : London
| Subject: Re: Water Challenge Issued to Government Fri Nov 12, 2010 11:04 am | |
| David Cameron has commited to the Blueprint for Water (BFW) and amongst the vision for the Big Society there are many facets that, with the correct legislation, can make a massive difference to our water quality. Currently 2/3rds of our rivers are failing European targets for good water quality status under the criteria of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). This is how European Community can assist through strong legislation such as WFD, because we have all signed up to make sure that the impact of climate change is lessened through best practice, the hollow talk of independence from Europe is, in some part, a fear of having to spend money for what 'normal' people would consider worthy and noble - nay absolutely responsible and correct - projects to ensure that we do not continue compromising our natural environment for the sake of profit. For more info on the Blueprint for Water: Click HereRichard | |
| | | David Harvey
Posts : 5381 Join date : 2010-01-21 Age : 109 Location : Surrey,
| Subject: Re: Water Challenge Issued to Government Sun Nov 14, 2010 10:10 am | |
| Thanks Richard | |
| | | Sponsored content
| Subject: Re: Water Challenge Issued to Government | |
| |
| | | | Water Challenge Issued to Government | |
|
Similar topics | |
|
| Permissions in this forum: | You cannot reply to topics in this forum
| |
| |
| |