MP Maria Miller welcomed the Virtual Chalk Streams Summit hosted by Rebecca Pow MP, Minister of State at the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs together with Chiltern Society bringing together a number of organisations working to return chalk streams to their natural state.
Maria commented; “Chalk streams like the River Loddon in Basingstoke are a rare and ecologically valuable habitat. For more than 10 years I have worked with Environment Agency and Thames Water to closely monitor water quality and habitat. We know that more needs to be done to protect these water courses from unsustainable abstraction and sources of pollution.”
“The Government are currently working with and supporting the Chalk Rivers Action Group (CRAG) to identify practical measures that can be taken to protect and enhance England’s chalk streams.”
The summit heard from Minister Pow, Doug Kennedy ,Chair of the CRAG, Harvey Bradshaw of Environment Agency and water companies including Thames Water, Southern Water and Water Resources South East.
Maria added; “I welcome the new national chalk stream action plan to restore and protect England’s chalk streams . The plan commits to working with all chalk stream stakeholders to better understand what actions must be taken in both the short and long term to make a real difference on the ground.”
