11 Mar 2025
In 2024, it was revealed United Utilities had repeatedly discharged millions of litres of raw sewage illegally into Lake Windermere over a three-year period. Environment Secretary Steve Reed has pledged that he will work toward a future where “only rainwater” enters England’s largest lake. The announcement comes as Reed and water minister Emma Hardy embark […]
11 Mar 2025
The Welsh and UK Government have announced a new £1 million joint research initiative to tackle water quality issues in the River Wye. The river, which runs for 130 miles from central Wales to the Severn Estuary, has seen its water quality and wildlife drastically decline after years of exposure to agricultural pollution, sewage discharges […]
13 Feb 2025
The Government has committed £2.65 billion to better protect 66,000 properties from flooding and coastal erosion by March 2026. The record two-year investment of £2.65 billion will see 52,000 properties benefit from new defences, with a further 14,500 properties benefiting from repairs and maintenance of existing defences. Photo credit: Zac Firth A full […]
13 Feb 2025
As the government this week opted to omit the Water Restoration Fund (WRF) from the Water (Special Measures) Bill currently progressing through Parliament, the Rivers Trust wrote to Water Minister Emma Hardy, calling on her to ensure money currently sitting unused in the Water Restoration Fund is paid out to start the task of reversing […]
06 Feb 2025
The government has announced the members of the new advisory group to the independent water commission, chaired by Sir Jon Cunliffe. Sir Chris Whitty (Chief Medical Officer), Richard Benwell (CEO, Wildlife & Countryside Link), Professor Isabelle Durance (Professor of Integrated Water Sciences at Cardiff University) and Peter Harrison (former CEO, Schroders) are among the nine members advising […]
06 Feb 2025
Defra has announced a consultation on the formation of a Land Use Framework for England. According to the government, “new sophisticated data on how land is used will underpin the Government’s Plan for Change, supporting economic growth through building 1.5 million homes and delivering critical infrastructure, securing clean power, protecting farmland and restoring the natural […]
22 Jan 2025
According to reports in the media, the Treasury is seeking to keep water firm fines earmarked for sewage cleanups. Reported in The Guardian, the Treasury is in discussions about keeping the money to use it for unrelated purposes at a time of huge pressure on the public finances and rising debt interest costs. Photo […]
22 Jan 2025
Progress towards improving the environment has slowed with government still largely off track in achieving its legal environmental commitments, the latest annual assessment by the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has found. The OEP report provides an assessment of progress towards legally-binding environment targets, commitments and goals. The report covers the period 1 April 2023 […]
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