13/07/2005 - With midsummer
flows in the River Avon at their lowest since
1976 the Environment Agency wants to hear
the views and opinions of local residents
on a new strategy to manage and protect flows
in the river and its tributaries, including
the Wylye, Bourne, Nadder and Ebble.
A special launch of the public consultation
will take place at 2.30pm on Thursday, July
21 at The George Inn, Fordingbridge (see note
to editors for directions/grid ref). Filming/photos
and media interviews will be available.
Following an exceptionally dry winter the
area has had only 67 percent of the average
rainfall in the last 8 months. With demands
on the river and groundwater increasing all
the time, the Environment Agency is taking
the lead in looking at the way water is used
and how that affects the natural environment.
Groundwater levels beneath Salisbury Plain
– the aquifer (water bearing rock) that drives
the springs that feed the Avon – have now
been below the long-term average every month
for the last two years.
The basis of the three month long consultation
is a document for the Hampshire Avon which
has been produced by the Environment Agency
and its partners in the community as past
of the Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy
(CAMS) programme. Those involved include local
anglers, farmers, Wessex Water, Bournemouth
and West Hampshire Water and English Nature.
The CAMS looks at the geology of the area,
how much water is taken for various uses including
industrial, agricultural and private, conservation
issues surrounding animal and plant life,
water quality and fishing.
The consultation document also sets out the
proposed licensing policy for taking water
out of the river system and from groundwater
identifying how this should be managed in
a sustainable way and to ensure compliance
with Habitats Regulations.
"This document is a major step forward
in managing water resources in one of the
most diverse chalk rivers in Britain. It clearly
sets out our plan for managing the catchment
over the next six years and how we will address
abstraction pressure. It is very relevant
given the current conditions," said Ron
Curtis for the Environment Agency.
"We need to find a sustainable way to
manage the Avon and its tributaries that will
balance the needs of the environment and those
that take water. Protection of the environment
is a priority in view of the large areas that
are designated under Habitats Regulations.
"The aim of the consultation document
is to produce a shared strategy between us,
our professional partners and the general
public. And for this we need the views and
knowledge of local people."
The CAMS consultation document is now available
at www.environment-agency.gov.uk. Copies are
also available from Frances Walker, Environment
Agency, Rivers House, Sunrise Business Park,
Higher Shaftesbury Road, Blandford Forum,
Dorset, DT11 8ST. Tel: 08708 506 506 or email
swessex.cams@environment-agency.gov.uk. The
closing date for comments is October 31, 2005.
The public consultation launch will take
place at The George Inn, 14, Bridge Street.
Fordingbridge, SP6 1AH, tel: 01425 652040.
Directions to The George Inn are: take the
A338 towards Salisbury, then branch left onto
the B3078 (signposted Fordingbridge). Continue
forward onto Bridge Street – B3078. The George
Inn is on the left. Parking is available in
the pub car park or in nearby public car park.
Grid Ref: SU 14949 14172.
The filming/photo opportunity will be Environment
Agency biologists sampling in the Avon.
