EAST OF ENGLAND PLAN
In January 2007 our Secretary, Peter Fox, wrote to the Dacorum Council's Development Plans Manager regarding the proposed changes to the East of England Plan. A further 12,000 additional houses are now called for in the local chalk streams catchment area with apparently no regard for water supply or the effect on our rivers and the surrounding natural environment.
Dear Mr. Blackburn,
Thank you and your Council for consulting with us on the extremely
important matter of the East of England Plan, and the proposed additions
in and around Dacorum and St. Albans, and, for that matter, near Hatfield.
Clearly, the main concern for our Society is always the future
well-being of all the Chiltern chalk streams, in particular the Ver.
Leading on from this is our wider concern for the whole bio-diversity of
these globally rare and precious assets. As such, they are regarded by
eminent environmentalists throughout their field as the European
equivalent of the rain forests.
The future of all these streams is under severe threat due to such
factors as drought, probably linked to global warming, over abstraction,
constantly increasing development demands, out dated farming practices,
and pollution.
In the case of the Ver, more water is abstracted from its area of
recharge than is naturally returned to its aquifer by annual rainfall.
We should not be distracted by the present wetter than average
conditions, for the long term average recharge has left the groundwater
levels far too low for the natural springs to provide sustainable flows
over much of the length of the Ver. (See the enclosures with this letter.)
When these rivers fail, as they now frequently do, much else is lost
besides the actual water. Precious wildlife, from tiny invertebrates to
larger mammals and birds, along with trees and wild flowers, also begins
to fail. In fact the whole river valley environment is adversely
affected in many ways. Bio diversity Action Plans (BAPS) fail, and all
living things suffer, not least us humans; we of course being the real
underlying cause in the first place, due not least to our ever
increasing individual use.
The most recent Environment Agency studies of the Ver since its
Alleviation of Low Flows Scheme of the early 1990’s was implemented show
that the river is still failing. The picture is similar throughout the
Chilterns
In light of the above it is inconceivable to us that any form of
Environmental Impact Assessment, which we understand is now a legal
planning requirement, could possibly
allow the East of England Plan, still less the disastrous proposed local
additions, to go ahead in their present form.
We are in an unsustainable situation now regarding the present, let
alone future, supply of water to domestic and business consumers in this
area. If, that is, we wish to pass on what is left of the beautiful
river environments surrounding us to our children and grandchildren.
Can anyone tell us who, in this entire sorry saga, has the right to deny
our grandchildren the right to observe the stunning site of a darting
kingfisher hunting over the gin clear pure waters of a bubbling chalk
stream.
As you will be very aware, the East of England Plan calls for an
additional 79,600 new homes in Herts by 2021. Now we are being asked to
accept an additional 12,000 in this area alone by that date, and the
strong possibility of much more by 2031!
Surely, someone, somewhere, has to explain how this proposed level of
further housing development, with all it brings with it, including green
belt invasion, all on an unprecedented scale, together with ever
increasing human water demand, can go ahead without our entire area
gradually turning into an arid dust bowl for most of the year, and then,
perversely, with serious flash flooding in winter.
All this in an area regularly receiving less rainfall than parts of
North Africa. We usually receive about half the average annual rainfall
as the rest of the British Isles.
The V V S is very concerned at the many signs that the whole water
situation is not being taken seriously enough by government, or our
elected representatives at all levels, and by planners generally.
We know Three Valleys Water PLC to be a caring and responsible provider,
but we also know that they are legally obligated to supply water on
demand. They simply cannot continue to do so, even at present levels,
from our diminishing existing resources.
It is our contention that all large scale future development in this
area, including Luton Airport and the Park Street Freight Terminal,
should be put on hold until our water supply infrastructure can be
solved in such a way that further damage to the environment is halted.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Fox,
Hon. Secretary, Ver Valley Society
C Cs Local MPs, Councillors,
And Press.
EAST OF ENGLAND PLAN
In March 2005 our Secretary, Peter Fox, on behalf of the Ver Valley Society published our initial response regarding the East of England Plan.
Sir,
We, the Ver Valley Society, understand that St. Albans District
Council’s planners fear that “major problems” would be caused by the East of England Regional Assembly scheme
which would result in an additional 79,600 new homes in Herts
by 2021. They are not alone!
This housing
scheme, part of the wider national planning for future housing
requirements for the entire east region, is now out for consultation
by the general public. There are a number of very important
basic factors that all of us should be holding in the forefront
of our minds when considering these plans, for they will, be
in no doubt, have a huge impact on life in this area as we and
our children now know it.
It is essential
that there is as much constructive public debate as possible
concerning the issues surrounding how society deals with consequences
of the EERA proposals.
Our specific concerns are for the future of the Ver Valley,
and we try very hard to approach development considerations
in an informed and balanced way, fully recognising that there
is a very serious requirement for housing development in this
region.
Absolutely
basic to all our needs is access to a reliable supply of good,
clean water. It is no exaggeration to state that if development
on anything like the scale proposed, without major changes to
the water supply infrastructure in the 100sq km or so which
constitute the groundwater catchment area of the river Ver,
this lovely chalk stream will die.
The situation
is made more acute by the unsustainable rise in the daily consumption
of water in this area, which now stands at 191 litres per day
per head. This rising figure is some 28% above the national
average.
Added to
this is the fact that our area is enduring a prolonged spell
of record breaking dryness. In fact we are as dry as some parts
of North Africa. We receive only about half the annual rainfall
as that of the rest of the British Isles. This very winter so
far is heading toward one of the driest ever in the Ver Valley
since records began.
More water
is abstracted from the Ver Valley catchment, the underlying
chalk aquifer, than is replaced by annual rainfall. The figure
presently stands at some 30,000000 litres per day being pumped
from the chalk groundwater and into the public supply system.
Yet there is presently no statutory requirement for developers
to take account of water demand in their planning!
Our supplier,
Three Valleys Water Company, are obliged by statute to supply
water as required by householders and businesses in its area.
They are a responsible company, and as concerned as we are for
the future life of our unique and historic river system.
The Ver
Valley Society was formed over 25 years ago, at a time when
the river was dying from over abstraction, the valley over intensively
farmed, the precious wetland habitat being lost to drainage
schemes, and many floodplain development threats. We were instrumental
in persuading the newly formed National Rivers Authority, forerunners
of the Environment Agency, to institute a river rescue plan
centred around the shutting down of the largest pumping station,
at Friars Wash, north of Redbourn, and placing it on standby
only. The replacement water came from an expensive new supply
link to Grafham Water. This scheme has been hugely encouraging,
but only partially successful. Even without the EERA plans,
the Ver is still dying, and in urgent need of a further low
flow alleviation scheme.
A great
deal of the water abstracted from the Ver catchment ends up
in the river Lea, via Luton, Dunstable, and the sewage system
after we have used it. This situation is unsustainable. The
public as well as the planners should be aware of these facts.
All of us,
especially those we elect to represent us locally, nationally,
and internationally, should be asking ourselves this stark question:-
does it matter if the Ver, and for that matter all the other
unique and precious Chiltern chalk streams die, along with their
special and unique bio-diversity. These chalk streams are globally
rare, and are the European equivalent of the rain forests in
bio-diversity terms. There is indeed a great deal to lose. Far
too much to set out here, but the whole quality of life for
all living things, not least our children and grandchildren
is under threat if we fail to take account of the long term
consequences of apathetically failing to give proper consideration
to protecting our environment.
The Ver
Valley Society was born to the slogan of “KEEP THE VER
FLOWING”
That slogan is appropriate now as never before.
Please contact us for more information, particularly if you
would like to join us in our ongoing battle to save the Ver.
You can contact us on 01582 793303 or 792843.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Fox, Hon Sec V V S.
