Rebecca Pow, Environment Minister, shared her concerns about the river Wye’s pollution during a visit at a Herefordshire farm bordering it.
She stated that as water minister, improving water quality is a priority.
Farm inspections are being increased, but it is not just about enforcement. We will pay farmers to deliver public goods. This includes maintaining healthy soils that hold water better.
Concerning the Herefordshire Councils’ call for the Government last week to establish a Water Protection Zone covering the whole River, we would need to gather a lot of data, evidence, and it would be an additional tier of regulation, she said.
It’s a complex issue, so I came today to gain some insight.
Coun David Hitchiner, Leader in Herefordshire Council, stated: The minister seems to be able to understand the issues. I hope we now see some positive action.
He said, “There doesn’t seem like a clear path out of the housing ban that is holding up 2,000 homes in the northern part of the county.”
Current environmental regulations require that new developments be made to ensure they do not contribute to rivers’ pollution problems.
He said that the council is now about to exchange contracts and begin its programme to create pollution-mitigating wetlands. It will then take three months for them to grant new housing permits.
Tump Farm is situated at the border of Sir Bill Wiggin’s North Herefordshire constituency.
I am delighted that the minister is here. It shows how important Wye is for the Government, he stated. He also agreed that builders need to be built again in the county.
I do my best on my own farm near Upton Bishop. No fertilisers or prophylactic antibiotics are given to our pasture-fed cows, he said.
Farmers should choose the best option over the easiest.
John Leyland, Environment Agency’s national chief of staff, said that advice and guidance is more effective than enforcement. While most are willing to work alongside us, we do pursue those who need to.
Clare Dinnis, the area director, said that the EA will conduct 150 inspections in Wye over the next eight weeks. This is more than the entire West Midlands last year.
She said that technology like drones and satellites can also be used to detect pollution sources.
However, there are simpler solutions for farms, such as removing manure, creating buffer strips between farmed soil and watercourses and maintaining cover crops. This was done at Tump Farm which was a former dairy farm that is now mostly arable.
Martin Williams, the farmer, said that it was difficult to maintain an economic and ecological balance.
He said that the Government’s plans to pay farmers for future public goods, including river protection, is probably the right thing to go and in line with our customers, but it would be difficult to create interest in an underfunded program.