Latest news with #chalkstreams
Times
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Paul Whitehouse and Joanna Lumley lead calls to save chalk streams
Joanna Lumley and Paul Whitehouse are leading calls for the government to resurrect an abandoned plan to save England's rare chalk streams. England is home to about 85 per cent of the globally important rivers, including the Avon, Frome and Stour which Sir David Attenborough highlighted in his Wild Isles series. However, they are threatened by too much water abstraction and sewage spills, which led the previous government to commission a 'chalk stream recovery pack' to rescue the waterways, which trout and other species rely on. Despite the author of the rescue plan saying it is 'agreed and written', Labour quietly shelved it after coming to power. Now a group of celebrities have joined forces with conservationists fighting to save the plan, using a
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Anger after extra protection for rare chalk streams dismissed by ministers
River campaigners have criticised Labour MPs after attempts to enshrine better protections for chalk streams in new planning reforms were rejected. A cross-party group pushed for stringent rules to be put into place to ensure the rare waterways are strictly protected from harm from new developments. But at a parliamentary committee to examine the government's draft planning bill, an amendment supporting new provisions for the at-risk habitats was rejected by Labour MPs. Mark Dye, of Gaywood River Revival (Image: Mark Dye) Mark Dye, spokesman for the Gaywood River Revival - a chalk stream campaign group based in west Norfolk - said: "This news is shocking, but not unexpected from a Labour government that made promises on the campaign trail that it has completely failed to keep. "You would think that protection of the chalk stream ecosystem would be central to a balanced planning and infrastructure bill. "It's as if they have ignored all common sense, the scientific evidence presented to them and stuck their fingers in their ears whilst shouting, 'Build, build, build'." READ MORE: Officials close probe into chalk stream pollution A section of the River Bure, which is one of Norfolk's chalk streams (Image: National Trust/PA Wire) Dubbed "England's rainforests," there are only about 200 chalk streams left in the world with 85pc of them found in the UK, 25 of which flow through Norfolk. Chalk streams such as Gaywood River are at a "tipping point" and face a "perfect storm" of harm caused by over-abstraction, pollution and climate change, Mr Dye said. Recent low levels of rainfall are exacerbating problems due to diminishing flows. Recent pictures of the Gaywood River show algae growth smothering the chalk bed, preventing the growth of vegetation (L) and on the right is a healthy section of the chalk stream at Derby Fen (Image: Gaywood River Revival) The amendment called for protections for all chalk streams as part of the new planning and infrastructure bill, which has been criticised as a "licence to kill nature". Labour's reform is seen as an attempt to rip up environmental red tape in favour of its push for housing and infrastructure by critics. The amendment would have required officials to identify measures to better protect chalk streams from pollution, encroachment, abstraction and other damage. The River Nar, one of Norfolk's chalk streams (Image: Newsquest) However, Labour MPs rejected it, with Matthew Pennycook, the housing minister, saying it was "not necessary to include the provision in the legislation". He added that the government had undertaken a comprehensive set of actions outside the bill to protect chalk streams. Another amendment to ensure irreplaceable habitats such as ancient woodlands, blanket bogs and lowland fens also get more protection was also blocked. Eliot Lyne, chief executive of Norfolk Wildlife Trust (Image: Danielle Booden) Eliot Lyne, CEO for Norfolk Wildlife Trust, called the outcome "deeply concerning". "The Planning and Infrastructure Bill as drafted poses a huge threat to nature," he said. "It is not, as the government claims, a win-win for nature and growth, it will allow developers to damage irreplaceable wildlife habitats that already face a multitude of other threats. "Without urgent protection for chalk streams, we are set to lose the crystal-clear waters of rivers such as the Wensum, Glaven and Bure; lose wildlife such as water voles, dragonflies and kingfishers from our landscape; and lose any chance of restoring them in the future." The region's MPs have joined campaigners in criticising the decision. South West Norfolk MP, Terry Jermy (Image: Roger Harris) Terry Jermy, Labour MP for South West Norfolk, has broken ranks and said he is "disappointed" that the opportunity was not taken to "create better protections for chalk streams as they are vital to our cultural and environmental heritage." Steff Aquarone, MP for North Norfolk (Image: Submitted) Steffan Aquarone, Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, added: "For Labour to backtrack now is staggering - they've turned down a crucial opportunity to protect our chalk streams and this decision will come at the cost of our precious natural environment."
The Guardian
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Attempt to protect England's rare chalk streams in planning bill rejected by Labour MPs
A cross-party attempt to protect England's rare and threatened chalk streams in the government's planning bill was rejected by Labour on Wednesday. The attempt to give that the globally rare ecosystems the strongest protections as irreplaceable habitats failed after all the Labour MPs on the parliamentary committee examining the draft law rejected an amendment containing the extra provision. There are only 200 chalk streams in the world, the MPs heard, and England is home to 85% of them. Many are already in an extremely poor condition, suffering from pollution and over abstraction – the removal of water – to serve developments. Only 37% of the streams meet ecological standards of 'good'. Ellie Chowns, a Green MP and member of the committee, said: 'These are globally significant ecosystems and they are largely restricted to our shores. So we have a huge responsibility to protect them.' Chowns said there were no national protections for chalk streams and put forward the amendment to the planning and infrastructure bill, which was supported by a group of cross-party MPs. The amendment would create protections for the habitats as the government attempts to rip up what it sees as environmental red tape to push for housing and infrastructure growth. The planning bill has been labelled a licence to kill nature by economists and ecologists because it allows developers to pay into a nature restoration fund rather than follow current environmental obligations to protect rare habitats and species. Under the bill, the payment into the fund would allow developers to begin work immediately while the money is used to improve nature, potentially in another region of the country. Critics point out that this strategic mitigation does not work for such a rare habitat as a chalk stream, which is impossible to recreate elsewhere. The amendment sought to impose protections for all chalk streams – most of which stretch across planning authority boundaries – and to require officials to identify the measures to be taken to protect any identified chalk streams from pollution, abstraction, encroachment and other forms of environmental damage. It would also have imposed responsibilities on strategic planning authorities in relation to the protection and enhancement of chalk stream habitats. Luke Murphy, the Labour MP for Basingstoke, said the bill was not the right place to create such protections. Matthew Pennycook, the housing minister, said the government was committed to restoring and improving chalk streams. 'These are unique water bodies, not just vital ecosystems but symbols or our national heritage,' he said, adding that the government had undertaken a comprehensive set of actions outside the bill to protect chalk streams. 'We don't believe it is necessary to include the provision in this legislation,' he said. Becky Pullinger, the head of land use and planning at The Wildlife Trusts, said: 'As we face the driest spring since 1956, with chalk stream flows at historic lows, it's vital that the planning and infrastructure bill ensures irreplaceable habitats like these are safeguarded from harm. 'England has 85% of the world's chalk streams and so today's decision from the government is deeply disappointing.'
