National press
office - 4-Nov-2008 - The Environment Agency has today
(Tuesday 4 November) welcomed the high environmental standards
proposed in the draft planning guidance for eco town developments.
The draft Planning Policy Statement
(PPS), published today for public consultation by Department
for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), includes
environmental standards to ensure a variety of water management,
flood risk and environmental protection measures are met.
Environment Agency Chief Executive,
Dr Paul Leinster, said: "We welcome the high environmental
standards contained in the Government’s draft planning
policy for eco-towns. It sets out clear standards for
reducing flood risk, encouraging water efficiency and
minimising waste. I believe the planning statement should
be a benchmark for all other forms of housing development
to help create sustainable communities."
Measures included in the draft PPS:
• Prohibiting development in high flood
risk areas
• Meeting high water efficiency standards
• Achieving water neutrality in water stressed areas
• Ambitious targets for waste minimisation
Dr Leinster added: "We have worked
closely with our partners in developing these standards
and will continue to comment to ensure that eco towns
meet the required environmental and sustainable standards.
Significant challenges still remain and we expect these
to be addressed in the planning and design of the eco
towns and their associated infrastructure. For example
we expect:
• Water cycle studies to be undertaken
- that provide a plan for any necessary water services
infrastructure improvements
• The master plans to account for climate
change adaptation, resource use and environmental protection
• Developers to refer to the guidance
on sustainable water management and green infrastructure
we have developed with the Town and Country Planning Association."
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Environment Agency boosts fish numbers
on River Yeo
Mike Dunning - 4-Nov-2008 - More than
30,000 young fish will be released into the River Yeo
in Somerset this week in a major re-stocking exercise.
The fish, including roach, bream, chub
and dace, will help replace stocks lost earlier this year
when abnormal weather conditions caused a deterioration
in water quality on the River Yeo near Langport.
The Agency’s Fisheries, Recreation and
Biodiversity team are due to take delivery of the fish
on Thursday (November 6). Measuring 4 – 5 inches in length,
the year-old fish are being transported to Somerset from
Calverton Fish Farm, an Agency hatchery and fish rearing
centre near Nottingham.
With cooler water temperatures, now
is an ideal time for re-stocking. Agency staff will release
the fish at two locations upstream of Langport – Long
Load and Huish Episcopi.
The fish deaths at the end of May, 2008
co-incided with high rainfall and warmer than average
weather that resulted in a drop in dissolved oxygen levels
in the River Yeo. A number of dead fish were seen close
to the confluence of Yeo and the River Parrett at Langport.
The Agency received several calls from concerned members
of the public.
Sampling and checks carried out at the
time suggest the deaths were caused by low oxygen levels
and increased algal growth indicating higher than average
levels of nutrients in the water. Where possible, Agency
officers retrieved dead fish for analysis and safe disposal.
‘The loss of fish in the early part
of the summer was unfortunate, but the Yeo is a productive
river capable of supporting a healthy fish population.
It will soon recover. On Thursday we’ll be giving it a
helping hand by stocking young fish to boost numbers and
speed up the recovery process,’ said Steve Thomas for
the Environment Agency.
For further details including times
and re-stocking locations call the Agency’s regional press
office on 01392 442008.
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'DIARY NOTICE: Ed Miliband to give keynote
speech at Environment Agency climate change conference'
National press office - 5-Nov-2008 -
Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London SW1 - The
UK’s lead policy-maker on climate change, Rt Hon Ed Miliband
MP, Secretary of State at the new Department of Energy
and Climate Change, has joined the impressive line-up
of speakers at the Environment Agency’s annual conference.
He will make the keynote address on the second morning
of the conference on 25 November.
Environmental futures 08: creating the
climate for change will bring leaders in government, business,
investment and environment together to discuss their roles
in adapting to climate change and working towards a low
carbon economy.
Other speakers and panellists include:
• Stavros Dimas, European Commissioner
for the Environment
• Dr James Hansen, Director of the NASA
Goddard Institute for Space Studies
• Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of
State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
• Boris Johnson, Mayor of London
• Sir Michael Pitt, Independent Chair
of The Pitt Review: Lessons learned from the 2007 floods
• Jane Davidson AM, Minister for Environment,
Sustainability and Housing, Welsh Assembly Government
• Dr Chris West, Director of the UK
Climate Impacts Programme
• Nick Robins, Head of Climate Change
Centre of Excellence, HSBC
• Richard Gillies, Director of Plan
A, Marks and Spencer
To see the full line up of speakers,
seminars and workshops and to register as a delegate visit
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/conference
+ More
Environment Agency offers advice to
Walsall businesses
Emily Poyser - 4-Nov-2008 - The Environment
Agency will be joining other regulatory and advisory organisations
at the HM Revenue and Customs Free Business Advice Open
Day, to be held at Walsall Football Club, Banks’s Stadium,
Bescot Crescent, Walsall, West Midlands, WS1 4SA on Thursday
13 November 2008.
HM Revenue and Customs has invited representatives
from a number of non-commercial organisations to provide
seminars and advice to businesses at the Open Day. People
are welcome to drop in to talk to some of the experts,
including the Environment Agency team, who will provide
free information and support to help them meet their environmental
obligations.
Martin Everett, the Environment Agency’s
Principal Officer (Waste), says “We want to meet businesses
informally and talk openly, not simply about legal compliance,
but about protecting the environment effectively, managing
business risks and also adapting to change".
Further details of the Open Day, and
how to attend, can be found at www.businessadviceday.gov.uk.
For those who cannot attend the Open
Day the NetRegs website at www.netregs.gov.uk provides
another invaluable source of advice and support on environmental
matters affecting businesses. It will help businesses
to understand what they need to do to comply with environmental
law and protect the environment. It may even help them
to save money by showing them ways to use their resources
more efficiently.
In England and Wales, this website is
provided by the Environment Agency in conjunction with
Business Link, Envirowise and The National Industrial
Symbiosis Programme (NISP).
