Two Herefordshire Councillors are calling for a Water Protection Zone to be introduced which would cover the whole River Wye system, in an effort to reduce pollution and to give more powers to agencies such as the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales.
The motion (Water Protection Zone for River Wye System) was proposed by Councillor Louis Stark and Seconded by Councillor Toni Fagan.
The motion states that our rivers are under attack and references an incident where 45000 were found dead from a pollution incident in the River Llynfi – a Wye tributary – and Natural Resources Wales have been unable to bring a prosecution against those responsible.
The motion also states concerns that the Environment Agency is too thinly spread to cope with the challenges it faces in Herefordshire.
The motion details what the Councillors believe the Council should do:
- Put polluters on notice that we are serious about enabling effective action to be taken against their practices;
- Build on our previous Council motion to investigate bathing status for our rivers – a good start but not a complete answer;
- Push for a comprehensive regulatory framework for the medium term that would envelop our river systems in a protective cloak and give the EA and NRW real teeth to enforce it;
More Details on the motion can be found by visiting – Notices of Motion – Full Council 28 January 2022.pdf (herefordshire.gov.uk)
