Basingstoke MP, Maria Miller, recently met with Kate Tuck, a prominent local environmental campaigner to discuss water quality on the River Loddon.
Maria said: “I am grateful to Kate for meeting with me here at the Loddon and discussing what more can be done to protect our beautiful local river.
“Our River the Loddon is a rare, north flowing, salmonoid chalk stream of which there are only 200 in the whole world. Over the past decade I have worked with the Environment Agency and Thames Water to make sure a cleaner Loddon is a priority in Basingstoke despite some of the highest levels of house building in the country. I have held recent meetings with both Thames Water, the Environment Agency, and the South East Rivers Trust on this issue. Meaningful progress is being made. Last year only one storm overflow incident affecting the Loddon was reported, down from 44 in 2020.
“But there is always more work to be done. It is so important that, with the help and vigilance of the local community, we continue to hold decision makers accountable for protecting our precious natural resources. Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council will imminently be considering a new ‘Local Plan’ for our community, and I want to encourage my constituents to participate in that process, so that we can ensure sustainable housebuilding levels and protect our environment, which I know is a high priority for the residents of Basingstoke”