Ross-on-Wye Angling Club meets with DEFRA to highlight action needed to restore polluted and ailing River Wye

Government agency DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) has consulted with representatives of Ross-on-Wye Angling Club on the steps needed to protect and restore the polluted River Wye.

Club chairman Rob Leather and past chairman Trevor Hyde, who carries out weekly phosphate monitoring tests on the river in Ross, were invited to meet with a group of DEFRA managers carrying out a fact-finding exercise in Ross recently.

Over the past year, the club has campaigned to draw attention to the dramatic levels of phosphate pollution contributing to the drastic decline in the river’s water quality and biodiversity.

“It’s a positive move from DEFRA to recognise the parlous state of the river and talk to the people who are passionate about bringing urgent improvement,” said Rob Leather.

“But in reality, that is a long-term project which may take years to come to fruition. As it stands, the river is at a crucial tipping point from which it may not recover. So, while DEFRA’s consultation is welcome, we really need urgent and decisive action without delay,” he added.

According to Rob and Trevor Hyde, that means:
• appropriate and compulsory mitigation to prevent pollution from intensive chicken and dairy production entering the river
• regular monitoring of farms and producers to ensure compliance
• and ultimately, stringent and meaningful enforcement, including suspension of operations
for those not prepared to follow the law

Also attending the meeting with DEFRA was Charles Watson, founder of the River Action (www.Riveractionuk.com) campaign group, which has criticised the lack of adequate and appropriate environmental management of the many large chicken and egg producers operating in the Wye catchment. River Action has challenged chicken and egg producers Noble Foods and Avara, and Tesco, to respond to its concerns.

In a related development, Rob Leather also welcomed the involvement of local MP Jesse Norman, who raised the issue of Wye pollution in the House of Commons recently, receiving assurances from Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab MP, on behalf of the government.