Basingstoke's MP, Maria Miller met with Water Quality scientist June Jones, Manager Richard Thompson and Ecologist John Benning at the Environment Agency for an update on water quality in the River Loddon.
Maria commented; “It was good to meet the Environment Agency following the recent Water Framework Directive Report update. An infestation of American Crayfish in the Loddon River has damaged the population of course fish and has led to the river being classed as “poor”. The population of trout does however continue to thrive. I had confirmation that Thames Water are working well within consent levels for discharge into the Loddon as a result of the innovative approach being used in Basingstoke.”
“The Environment Agency are working with farmers to avoid soil running off the land into the river and affecting water quality. “
“Chalk streams like the River Loddon in Basingstoke are a rare and ecologically valuable habitat. For more than 10 years I have worked with the organisations that have responsibilities to closely monitor our water quality and habitat. We will always need to do more to protect these water courses from unsustainable abstraction and sources of pollution. Over this time I have pressed for new technology to be used at the sewage works, for new water flow meters to be installed in the river to improve analysis and worked to keep the spotlight on the quality of the water in our river.”
