Our water and how clean it is

Our water and its cleanliness are a growing concern for many people living near the River Wye.

In the run-up to the general election, the BBC is addressing important issues such as this as part of “Your Voice, Your Vote”.

Emily Chapman once enjoyed swimming in the “nation’s favourite river”, but now feels the risk to her health is too great.

Last month, activists from the charity River Action (RA) sued the government over the state of the Wye – they lost the case but plan to appeal.

“It is a dying river”

“These rivers have been virtually destroyed by the waste and the wildlife population has been decimated,” Ms Chapman said.

She wants to know what plan a future government will have to protect and restore what she believes is a dying river.

“For the sake of the environment and wildlife, I would like to know what MPs would do to clean up our rivers and how they will prevent further damage,” she said.

The Wye is known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is home to protected species such as otters and Atlantic salmon, but has recently attracted attention for all the wrong reasons.

Pollution has killed much of the river’s water crowfoot, a plant that provides habitat and food for wild species.

The number of algal blooms – photosynthetic organisms that have toxic effects on wildlife and human health when left uncontrolled – has also increased.

“Advisory-oriented approach”

The meandering Wye is 150 miles long and begins in the Welsh mountains before crossing the border to Hay-on-Wye in England.

The RA was granted judicial review in May because the Environment Agency (EA) had failed in its duty to protect the river from agricultural pollution.

A spokesman for the agency said after winning the case: “We are working to implement a more preventative and advisory approach to monitoring and enforcement.”

“Anyone caught violating environmental laws will face enforcement action, including criminal prosecution.”

The Wye catchment area flows through six constituencies, three in Wales and three in England.

Numerous government agencies in both countries have an interest in the water, but the flow of the river clearly does not recognize different policies.

The only way to clean the river is for everyone involved to work together, says Nicola Cutcher, an activist with Friends of the River Wye.

“It is extremely frustrating that for years everyone has said that this river knows no borders, that it is in England and Wales.

“The people who live along this river and have witnessed its decline are devastated. We need a cross-border plan.”

Dave Throup was an EA employee in Herefordshire and Worcestershire for 22 years and said the problem needed to be addressed.

“The fact that there are two governments and two regulators brings with it a number of new complexities, but that is something we have to overcome,” he said.

Retired soldier Leslie Wilkinson walks his dog along the River Wye in Hereford and said water pollution is on his mind when considering which party to vote for.

“Look at the color, it’s terrible, it’s chocolate brown,” he says, pointing to the river.

“It’s terrible, and the other day the whole river stank. It’s disgusting.”

“It’s easy to take care of the water, isn’t it? It’s vital for everyone.”

Scientists have explained that suffocating algae caused by the water’s high phosphate content has caused vegetation to die, leaving no food available for the animals that depend on the Wye to survive.

How would the parties address the problem?

The conservative promised to provide £35 million to clean up the English section of the Wye shortly before the dissolution of Parliament. Jesse Norman, Tory candidate for Herefordshire and South Herefordshire, said in his campaign video: “We need collective change to clean up the river.”

Work They say they will “take action against water companies that harm the environment and pollute our rivers with automatic and hefty fines and new powers to block rewards until the water bosses clean up the mess.”

The Liberal Democrats argue that they would give more funding to the Environment Agency and Natural England, relist water companies and create a tough new regulator with powers to prevent sewage pollution.

The green They have promised to “put water back in the hands of the public” and are calling for “holding water companies accountable for their actions.”

On the website of the candidate for North Herefordshire, Andrew Dye, reform say: “Net zero is not about the environment, it’s about greed.”

“It is scientifically illiterate, ecologically and economically disastrous, the largest transfer of wealth in human history and a deliberate act of national self-harm.”

Candidates who are in Hereford and South Herefordshire:

• Jesse Norman for the Conservative Party

• Diana Toynbee for the Green Party

• Joe Emmett for the Labour Party

• Dan Powell represents the Liberal Democrats

• Nigel Ely for the Reform Party

• Mark Weadon as Independent

Candidates who are in North Herefordshire:

• Bill Wiggin for the Conservative Party

• Ellie Chowns will represent the Green Party

• Jon Browning OBE for the Labour Party

• Cat Hornsey for the Liberal Democrats

• Andrew Dye for reforms

• Michael Guest for the Social Democratic Party

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