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Action for the River Kennet |
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| The River Kennet The River Kennet is one of England's most important chalk streams. Some 45 miles long, it is the largest tributary of the Thames and in summer months contributes up to half its flow. It runs through the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and passes by some of Britain's most important prehistoric sites, including the World Heritage Site of stone circles and avenue at Avebury and Silbury Hill Volunteer Activities Next volunteer activity is Wednesday 18 January in Marlborough. For more details call 07880 515859. You can still see BBC Panorama's Drinking our Rivers Dry on the iplayer. Just follow this link.
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On Saturday 14 January ARK hosted a visit to the River Kennet from the chair of the all party parliamentary angling group - Charles Walker MP and Claire Perry, MP for Devizes. Martin Salter, the campaigns director for the Angling Trust and ex MP for Reading, whose old constituency included the River Kennet, were also, along with representatives from ARK Dr Geoffrey Findlay, ARK's chairman and Charlotte Hitchmough ARK's director, and concerned local residents. The event was a chance to show politicians the dire state of the Kennet, which is a result of lack of rainfall combined with excessive water abstraction. Following the publication of the Water White Paper it is important that politicians see for themselves the sad state of some of England's rivers, and know that good legislation could protect rivers like the Kennet in future.
Follow this link to get your free water saving devices, and help the River Kennet by using less water in your home.
On Friday September 30th, the minister for the Natural Environment and Fisheries, Richard Benyon met Geoffrey Findlay and Charlotte Hitchmough from Action for the River Kenent in Marlborough to discuss the low flows in the river Kennet, and the on-going issue of over-abstraction. Local MP Claire Perry also attended the meeting and made clear to the minister that her in-box was full of letters expressing dismay at the poor state of the upper Kennet. Claire offered such help as she could give to support ARK in its campaign to reduce water abstraction. As he stood on the bridge overlooking a dried out section of the river, Richard Benyon agreed that the state of the Kennet was 'very worrying'. The meeting was an opportunity to discuss how government policy can be altered to encourage water companies to select less vulnerable sources of water, and how water customers can be encouraged to value every drop. Geoffrey Findlay, ARK's chairman said 'We were able to discuss in some detail the problems the river Kennet is facing and how they might be solved. I think we made some good progress. The minister was generous with his time, and is clearly engaged with the issue of water abstraction. ARK told the minister that they welcomed Thames Water's aspiration to reduce reliance on the Kennet aquifer to supply water but would like a clear timetable for action, particularly in relation to the Axford borehole. In addition ARK would like to see a regulatory system which encouraged water companies to protect fragile water resources.
The upper Kennet through Marlborough College is running so low this week (26 September) that around 0.5km is entirely dry. A team of willing volunteers rescued brown trout, grayling, bullheads and minnows which had become stranded in a remaining puddle on Monday. We agree with the Environment Agency in so far as the extreme low flows are the result of a prolonged spell of dry weather. However, we don't think that the impact of prolonged over-abstraction can be entirely discounted as a significant contributing factor. Abstraction reduces the resilience of rivers to withstand natural periods of low flow. While the river is in this fragile state we, the water consumer, have continued to abstract and use water at the same rate. We all need to reduce our water consumption and not overexploit this precious water resource. Click here for Marlborough NewsOnline article.
19 September 2011 Click here to watch 'Drinking our Rivers Dry' on iPlayer ARK (Action for the River Kennet) has been campaigning to reduce abstraction from the borehole at Axford for 20 years. This abstraction takes water from aquifer which feeds the River Kennet and exports it to Swindon. The abstraction damages the river’s ecology, which includes mayflies, brown trout, kingfishers, watervole and otters. Despite agreement from both the Environment Agency and Thames Water that a reduced licence is needed, nothing has yet been done. In fact, earlier this year the EA renewed Thames Water's abstraction license despite clear and critical issues of over abstraction on this river. Thames Water has made a commitment to reduce abstraction from the Kennet aquifer, but we need to see a clear timetable for action. We need the support of government, the regulator and the Environment Agency to allow this to happen. The example of the Kennet highlights a bigger issue, which is that current legislation permits water companies to abstract too much water from the aquifers which feed our fragile chalk streams. We are destroying our rivers, and the problem will only get worse as demand for water grows. The government is currently drafting its Water White Paper and ARK is working with WWF-UK to make sure they will take this opportunity to change water licencing rules to protect chalk streams like the Kennet. We would like to see a water management system that better reflects natural variability and the value of water to the environment as well as to people. Action for the River Kennet 20 September 2011
Find out more about the wildlife in the Meadows: 10am, 12 noon and 9pm Click here for photosof this event. Led by Peter Marren and Harry Forbes
MP Claire Perry visited the Kennet at Stonebridge Lane on May 20th. She admired the beautiful riverside site, where a new boardwalk, seats and wildlife habitat work have created a place where people can enjoy the river. She shared ARK's concern over the low levels of water in the river and pledged to take action over abstraction. Full article here: Marlborough News Online article.
On May 25 locals and visitors celebrated the completion of work to ARK's site at Stonebridge Lane with a glass of lemonade and a delicious selection of homemade cake. For more about the project click here.
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RK hosts MPs' visit to ailing Kennet