Press Release from Bill Wiggin MP:
I was pleased to welcome Rebecca Pow MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to discuss the ongoing Phosphate situation in the Wye, Lugg and all our rivers.
Minister Pow visited a farm in Brampton Abbott to discuss how we resolve diffuse pollutions in our rivers.
I have been campaigning for improvements to this pressing issue as it is holding back housebuilding and frustrating local construction companies, as well as people with planning permission who are not allowed to complete their building projects.
This meeting was another step forward but of course there is still much to be done.
It is important that farmers who are paying for expensive fertilizer, keep it on their land as it is not in their interest to lose it or indeed any of their soil, into the rivers.
Farmers clearly do not wish for this to happen either although there are some who could do more, most are already working to prevent erosion and soil loss.
What is not helping is the inherent blame culture surrounding this contentious issue, this should stop and be replaced with a joined-up approach to create solutions that will benefit all.
It will require the work of not just the Government but the Environment Agency, Welsh Water, Local government and of course their Welsh equivalents, as this is a cross-border issue.
I will be meeting again with the Environment Agency in the coming weeks to look at a few North Herefordshire flood spots and discuss potential improvements.
If we can get these projects sorted out in the summer, then we avoid the misery of flooding in the winter.
There are plenty of opportunities to find solutions, and I will continue to work on getting these realised as soon as possible.
