Latest news with #chalkstream
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Planners refuse permission for poultry unit close to ‘precious' chalk stream
Planners have turned down an application for a poultry unit housing up to 32,000 egg-laying hens in the floodplain of a 'precious' chalk stream. Campaigners and local groups welcomed the decision by West Berkshire Council to reject the application for the new building that would house free-range chickens, over concerns it would harm the River Kennet. West Berkshire Council refused planning permission on the grounds it would result in 'significant harm' to protected areas on the Kennet and Lambourn rivers and their floodplains, with potentially harmful effects from nutrient pollution from the chickens. The site near Newbury, belonging to Sir Richard Sutton Limited, is close to the River Kennet Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and connected through the water system to several Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), officials said. The Kennet is one of England's important chalk streams, which with their clear, flowing water fed from underground chalk aquifers and springs, provide habitat for an array of wildlife as well as water resources for people. There are only around 200 in the world, most of them found in the southern half of England, making them an internationally rare habitat. But campaigners warn the river, home to fish such as trout and grayling, is already under pressure from both sewage and agricultural pollution, as well as habitat degradation, and the potential increase in runoff from chicken manure could further degrade its ecological health. Martin Salter, head of policy at the Angling Trust, welcomed the decision to refuse the development, which would have replaced existing free-range hen sheds housing 12,000 birds, as he warned of the wider issue of poultry polluting England's rivers. Mr Salter, a long-time Kennet angler, said: 'It's been a long, hard campaign but I'm so pleased that common sense has finally prevailed and those of us who love and cherish Berkshire's most famous chalk stream can breathe a sigh of relief.' And he said: 'Phosphate pollution from agriculture in general, and chicken production specifically, is now a major cause of pollution in many of our rivers with now only 14% of them meeting good ecological status under the Water Framework Directive.' He warned of a 'massive nationwide increase in chicken production' in recent years, and said: 'The Angling Trust hopes that this decision demonstrates that it is possible to fight back against locating these highly toxic poultry units anywhere that puts our precious rivers at further risk.' The issue of nutrient pollution from poultry production affects other rivers, most notably the Wye and its tributaries in England and Wales, prompting legal action and calls to prevent any further expansion of intensive chicken farms in at-risk catchments.
The Independent
8 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
Planners refuse permission for poultry unit close to ‘precious' chalk stream
Planners have turned down an application for a poultry unit housing up to 32,000 egg-laying hens in the floodplain of a 'precious' chalk stream. Campaigners and local groups welcomed the decision by West Berkshire Council to reject the application for the new building that would house free-range chickens, over concerns it would harm the River Kennet. West Berkshire Council refused planning permission on the grounds it would result in 'significant harm' to protected areas on the Kennet and Lambourn rivers and their floodplains, with potentially harmful effects from nutrient pollution from the chickens. The site near Newbury, belonging to Sir Richard Sutton Limited, is close to the River Kennet Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and connected through the water system to several Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), officials said. The Kennet is one of England's important chalk streams, which with their clear, flowing water fed from underground chalk aquifers and springs, provide habitat for an array of wildlife as well as water resources for people. There are only around 200 in the world, most of them found in the southern half of England, making them an internationally rare habitat. But campaigners warn the river, home to fish such as trout and grayling, is already under pressure from both sewage and agricultural pollution, as well as habitat degradation, and the potential increase in runoff from chicken manure could further degrade its ecological health. Martin Salter, head of policy at the Angling Trust, welcomed the decision to refuse the development, which would have replaced existing free-range hen sheds housing 12,000 birds, as he warned of the wider issue of poultry polluting England's rivers. Mr Salter, a long-time Kennet angler, said: 'It's been a long, hard campaign but I'm so pleased that common sense has finally prevailed and those of us who love and cherish Berkshire's most famous chalk stream can breathe a sigh of relief.' And he said: 'Phosphate pollution from agriculture in general, and chicken production specifically, is now a major cause of pollution in many of our rivers with now only 14% of them meeting good ecological status under the Water Framework Directive.' He warned of a 'massive nationwide increase in chicken production' in recent years, and said: 'The Angling Trust hopes that this decision demonstrates that it is possible to fight back against locating these highly toxic poultry units anywhere that puts our precious rivers at further risk.' The issue of nutrient pollution from poultry production affects other rivers, most notably the Wye and its tributaries in England and Wales, prompting legal action and calls to prevent any further expansion of intensive chicken farms in at-risk catchments.
The Guardian
30-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Council recognises right of River Test to flow unimpeded and unpolluted
The right of a famous chalk stream, the Test in Hampshire, to flow freely and unpolluted has been officially recognised by politicians. Councillors on Test Valley borough council voted unanimously to acknowledge 'the intrinsic rights' of the rivers within its boundaries including the Test, which is renowned for its trout and fly fishing. It means councillors and officials will have to keep the Test front and centre when making decisions on planning, land use, water management and biodiversity. Members of the Tory-led council promised to support efforts by citizens to monitor the Test and ask the UK government to publish an annual 'state of the rivers' report to track progress in protecting river ecosystems. Geoff Cooper, a Liberal Democrat councillor who put forward the motion to recognise the Test's rights, said rivers were one of the country's greatest assets. He said: 'It is our duty to protect those for future generations to come. It is not just sewage that endangers our rivers, there is the impact of road runoff, the impact of agriculture, the impact of planning and development. It is not just about pointing your fingers at the water company, it is all the factors that endanger our rivers.' There are only about 200 chalk streams in the world. The 39-mile Test is important for Atlantic salmon, while birds such as kingfishers marsh harriers and little grebes live on and around it. Parts of the stream, which flows from chalk downs into Southampton Water, are ideal for watercress growers. The Test featured in Richard Adams' novel Watership Down, in which some of the rabbits flee down the stream on a punt. Cooper said biodiversity in and around the stream had declined dramatically over the last few decades. When he used to drive alongside the riverbanks a quarter of a century ago, his car windscreen would be covered by insects, he said. On the way to the meeting at which the rights of the Test were ratified there were hardly any, though it is high summer. He described this as a red flag. The motion was seconded by Janet Burnage, another Lib Dem, who said: 'We live in one of the most beautiful areas of the English countryside. We should and must be proud of this. Without the River Test, its tributaries and all the other rivers that flow through Test Valley, we would not have the wonderful bounty of nature around us.' Other local authorities around the world have begun to afford rivers official rights and the supporters of the Test hope the new initiative will inspire even more. The Earth Law Center, a US charity, championed the idea of giving nature a voice in the legal system, allowing it to defend its rights just as people can. In 2017, New Zealand granted legal personhood to the Whanganui River in the North Island. This year Lewes district council in East Sussex produced a rights of river charter to help protect the River Ouse. The Test motion says the river should have 'the right to flow – unimpeded, seasonal, and natural; the right to perform essential functions within the ecosystem; the right to be free from pollution and contamination.'
BBC News
15-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Chalk stream conservation hailed a success
A five-year-long project to improve the landscape around one of south Wiltshire's rare chalk streams has been hailed a Crystal Clear Ebble project aimed to inspire communities and volunteers to protect the river, which runs from Alvediston in the west to Bodenham, south of Salisbury, where it joins the Hampshire grants have enabled landowners to open up the waterway and introduce helpful plant species, which has led to an increase in wildlife and protected the Ebble's water river is one of only 200 chalk streams in the world, with 80% of those found in southern England. Simon Allsebrook received advice and a grant to improve the stream running through his property."They cleared the river out, graded the bank down and opened up the canopy to let more light in," he said."We had a two-month project of rebuilding the river bank, putting in coir matting, and then replanting, which has now got marginal and emergent plants coming through."There are more birds. There are more animals around. You notice the huge improvement." Chalke Valley Watercress, run by the Hitchings family for over 140 years, is one of the businesses dependent on the river clean, alkaline water, which remains at around 10 degrees, is perfect for growing the crop, and Keith Hitchings said maintaining that quality was crucial to the farm."There's a natural spring water that rises here, up to 5 million gallons a day," he said."The nutrients are actually naturally in the chalk, which is then carried into the water. That's what the watercress lives off of."It's perfectly clean if we do bacterial testing on it; the quality is absolutely fantastic."
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Hemel Hempstead chalk stream rerouted at Gadebridge Park
A rare chalk stream has been rerouted to improve wildlife habitats and reduce the risk of localised flooding. The River Gade, at Gadebridge Park in Hemel Hempstead, has been returned to its natural course after it was moved to supply water to the former Bury Mill. The river restoration project in the Hertfordshire town was completed by the Environment Agency (EA) who worked with Dacorum Borough Council and Affinity Bromham, Liberal Democrat portfolio holder for neighbourhood operations at Dacorum, said: "The return of the River Gade to its natural course not only restores an important ecosystem but also enhances the park experience for our residents and visitors." The council was previously told the Gade was one of the "very few" chalk streams that exist around the artificial channel that had been cut caused the river to become disconnected, which the EA said led to water quality issues and limited new footbridges, a gauging station, and an ultrasonic structure that allows fish and mammals to move freely were installed as part of the project. Former Undertones singer Feargal Sharkey has been involved in a long-running campaign to preserve chalk "We've destroyed our chalk streams," says SharkeyListen: Sharkey's 'river ramble' with Clare BaldingThe Chiltern Society said chalk streams played host to water vole, endangered in the UK, and brown was created along the banks to provide habitat for different species including trout, water vole and Wilson, area director at the EA, said: "Getting to this stage marks the huge collective effort of a large number of people."I'd like to thank everyone involved for their perseverance and commitment to bringing such a complex and ambitious project to completion." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
