A round up of recent news items from the ColneCAN network.

As a reminder, James Champkin Catchment Co-host will be producing these updates every month so if you have any news or events that you would like to share among ColneCAN partners, please do contact us so that we can include it within the next digest.

1. Action required: Join a Webinar on our Regional Water Supply Plan - after months of work by stakeholders across the South East, the Water Resources South East (WRSE) group has released a consultation on its emerging regional plan. The consultation on the plan is running from 17 January, for eight weeks – concluding on 14 March. The consultation document, and supporting documents, are available through wrse.org.uk and dedicated consultation platform. WRSE is hosting four webinars next week to provide more information about the plan and answer stakeholders’ questions, and has helpfully tailored these webinars to different parts of the region. The webinar for the north of the region – which includes the Colne Catchment – is being held on Wednesday 2^nd February. Register here.
2. Government Report on Water Quality – a comprehensive new Government report on water quality in rivers has been submitted to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (click here to read or download). The report makes a number of key new recommendations to improve the health of our waterways. Find out more here.
3. Thames Water CEO Addresses Sewage Overflows – the Colne Catchment Action Network (ColneCAN) has received a letter from Sarah Bentley, the CEO of Thames Water, regarding recent investigations into sewage treatment works by Ofwat and the Environment Agency – read here. If you have any questions on this letter, please let James know and he can pass them on to the relevant Thames Water staff member.
4. New Thames Flood Scheme website – the River Thames Flood Scheme now has a new website, which will act as an engagement hub for all future external engagement around the scheme.
5. Key Information on ELMS – earlier this month, Defra made an announcement through the release of a policy paper to outline how one element of the new Environmental Land Management Schemes – Landscape Recovery – will work. Find out more here.
6. Bin It - Don’t Block It – Thames Water is seeking stakeholder support with their new Bin it – Don’t Block It campaign to tackle the issue of sewer blockages caused by wet wipes, sanitary products and other material being flushed down the toilet. Read the stakeholder pack here and Thames are asking if you could please kindly support the campaign where possible, by sharing this campaign through your social media channels.
7. 21^st Century Rivers – this month, Water UK published a significant new report entitled 21^st Century Rivers: Ten Actions for Change. Water UK are asking everyone — from river users and customer groups, to environmental NGOs, to work with us on a new approach that responds to these challenges. Crucially, with other industries responsible for three-quarters of the reasons for harm in rivers, this needs a new, combined, national endeavour that does things differently. Read more here.
8. Thames Water Environmental Newsletter – the latest edition of their newsletter is out.

The Colne Valley Park Rivers Team.

• Previous
• Next