Basingstoke has not been affected by restrictions on house building to achieve 'nutrient neutrality', unlike other areas of the county. The changes in Government river protections now better recognise that it is in fact farming practices and sewage works processes that cause 3 /4 nutrient pollution cases in the UK. The new changes to the rules that protect our rivers better recognise that housebuilding makes a much smaller contribution to this very pressing problem, therefore allowing money and action to be focused on tackling the real sources of the problem.
That is why for more than a decade my focus has been on pressing Thames Water to improve the quality of waste water it returns to the Loddon after we have used it in our homes, including successfully getting the trialling of new dosing levels switched to Basingstoke's sewage works, which has been successful in reducing phosphate levels. It's water companies that contribute around a third of the cases of ‘poor nutrient status’ . ‘Nutrient neutrality’ has also become an issue in some areas through farming practices which contribute around half of cases of ‘poor nutrient status’. The change the Government has announced means now we have measures focused on the biggest sources of the problem with money being focussed on upgrading wastewater treatment works, over £200 million to tackle the issue at source in agriculture, and developing protected sites in areas that are affected by nutrient pollution. Nutrient neutrality rules were never intended to be permanent, and it makes sense to focus on tackling the major sources of nutrient pollution.