Countryside lovers in Luton and Dunstable are being given an opportunity to speak up for the rivers, lakes, ponds and wetlands they love.
A group of 16 environmental charities and organisations – including the National Trust, RSPB and WWF, are urging countryside lovers and communities to have their say by responding to a consultation on the future of England’s waters, published today by the Environment Agency.
The charities are asking people which stream, river, pond or landscape matters to you and are urging you to tell the Environment Agency about it via the Save Our Waters website. It may be a local special place where people enjoy relaxing, or a popular place to visit, such as the River Ouzel, Houghton Regis Chalk pits or Priory Country Park.
Many of Englands’s watery places have suffered the effects of extreme flooding, drought or pollution in recent years and only a quarter of our water bodies are in a healthy state. So the “Save Our Waters” campaign is inviting everyone to tell the Environment Agency how important your local stream, river, pond or lake is to you.
Chairman of the Blueprint for Water coalition of organisations, Janina Gray said: “This is a chance for everyone to send a clear message to the Environment Agency and the Government that Bedfordshire’s water is important to you and that you want it managed well in future, for everyone’s benefit.
“Even if people only have a couple of minutes to make their opinion count, it’s easily done via the Save Our Waters website, saveourwaters.org.uk which has a quick way to log your view.”