21 Apr 2026
Photo by Karl Hanssens Two developments this week have put Sussex’s marine conservation zones in the spotlight – one bringing new protections, the other raising fresh concerns about the integrity of a neighbouring site. Trawling ban takes effect off Beachy Head A new law banning trawling and scalloping in a zone of 101 square […]
21 Apr 2026
Photo by Viktor Hesse The UK Supreme Court has unanimously ruled against Ørsted in a landmark tax dispute, finding that nearly £50m spent on surveys and studies during the development of four offshore wind farms does not qualify for capital allowances. The Danish developer has warned the ruling weakens the business case for offshore […]
21 Apr 2026
Photo by Dimitry B Two new studies paint an alarming picture of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) – the vast ocean current system that regulates climate across Europe, Africa and the Americas. Scientists say the AMOC is both already weakening and significantly more likely to collapse than previously thought. The future: models were […]
21 Apr 2026
Photo by Yannis Papanastasopoulos A team of geoscientists from the University of Leicester has helped confirm the existence of ancient freshened water sealed beneath the floor of the Atlantic Ocean – the first time such a system has been directly documented. The findings could have significant implications for understanding future freshwater resources in drought-vulnerable […]
15 Apr 2026
Photo by Colby Winfield on Unsplash Following an Environment Agency investigation, United Utilities pleaded guilty to introducing thousands of fish into Bessy Brook, near Bolton, without a permit. The EA says this sentence marks a regulatory milestone as the first time a water company has been sentenced under The Keeping and Introduction of Fish (England and River Esk Catchment Area) […]
15 Apr 2026
Image description: Aerial view of Ilkley wetland project run by Yorkshire Water. Image credit: Yorkshire Water. Work has officially begun on a nature-based wetland in Ilkley, marking the next chapter of a £60 million investment to improve water treatment and the water quality of the river Wharfe. The project forms part of Yorkshire Water’s largest ever environmental […]
15 Apr 2026
Image description: People walking past the Palace of Westminster in the rain. Photo by Heidi Fin on Unsplash Calls for a referendum on water company ownership Two campaigners who prominently featured in the recent Channel 4 docudrama Dirty Business have launched a petition calling for a referendum on water company ownership. As reported in the BBC, Ash Smith and […]
15 Apr 2026
Image description: Water flowing from a concrete pipe. Photo by Abdullah Wafiyy on Unsplash. The trade association for the water industry, Water UK, has published its assessment of whether water companies are able to spend enough on maintaining their infrastructure. New analysis presented at a conference of engineers, economists and government policy officials in London last month suggests the answer may be […]
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