Axford Abstraction In January 2008 the Environment Agency allowed Thames Water to continue to abstract water from the Axford borehole. The decision came after ARK had been campaigning for over a decade to get the licence revoked. The terms of the new licence variation do offer some improvement but it does not deliver as much benefit to the river as could have been achieved. The Agency’s decision will prevent any increased abstraction, and reduces the average quantity of water abstracted at Axford by only around 4% per year. ARK’s technical advisor, John Lawson, said ‘I think the Environment Agency has missed the opportunity to reduce the annual total back to the base licence amount of 3410 Ml per year or 9.3 Ml per day . This would have given a 23% reduction, which would have been a substantial improvement. It could also have signified an intention to get a further future reduction.’ The Environment Agency insists that the reduction they would like to see at Axford ‘will not happen with a single ‘quick fix’ solution.’ They go on to say that the licence determination is an ‘important first step towards a more sustainable abstraction regime at Axford.’ Representatives from ARK will continue to meet and discuss with the Environment Agency to ensure that all the options for water use in the Upper Kennet are fully explored. The full licence determination can be seen at: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/waterres/564321/566207/516505/1935864/?version=1&lang=_e | 
