Dacorum Environmental Forum Water Group

Held at Council Chambers Berkhamsted Town Council

Wednesday 14^th May 2008 at 7:30pm

Chair Roger Hands

Minutes

	Attended
	Petrina Llewellyn, Project Officer Countryside Management Service (Secretary)
	John Norris, Wetlands & Water Group Chilterns Society
	Michael Heylin, Box Moor Angling Society
	Roger Hands, (Chair) DEF Water Group Roger Lerry, Chilterns Society
	John Leonhardt, retired Field Studies Teacher
	Sylvia Davidson, Friends of the Earth, DEF Water Group
	Clare Covington, Dacorum Borough Council
	Alex Back, Hydrogeologist, Water Resources, Three Valleys Water
	Cllr Brian Jones, Northchurch Parish Council
	Beryl Buckingham, Wetlands & Water Group Chilterns Society
	Rob Sage, Water Resource Manager, Veolia Water
	Allen Beechey, Chilterns Chalk Stream Project Officer Chilterns AONB
	Miles Morgan, Water Resources Officer, Environment Agency
	1. Apologies
	Melanie Challis, Conservation Officer, Environment Agency
	Graeme Cannon, Property Manager, Ashridge Estate
	Brian Pettet, Vice Chairman, Upper Gade Fly Fishers Association
	Peter Shardlow, Upper Gade Fly Fishers Association
	Betty Patterson, DEF Water Group
	Andy Hardstaff, West & Southern Area Manager Countryside Management Service Victor Brooks, Chairman, Water End and Upper Gade Valley Preservation Society Jean de Selincourt, Wetlands & Water Group Chilterns Society
2. Approval of minutes 28^th November 2007 The minutes were approved and signed by the chair. 3. Matters Arising
Roger Hands (RH) is to organise a visitors centre meeting later this year, as previously discussed.		RH
4. Looking to the future of the Upper Gade Options and Ideas– Presentation by Alex Back (ABa), Three Valleys Water ABa gave a presentation, summarising key information outlined in the Draft Upper River Gade End of Year Summary Report. The yellow highlights in the report are information that has not been yet finalised. ABa reported on the last 2 years worth of dips and monitoring of boreholes and mentioned there had been a good recovery of water levels recently. Logger data from Frithsden was also reported on, showing recovery in 2008 and in the beginning of August 2007 (Figure 3.6) the information received was due to a lightning strike. ABa gave an overview of the water monitoring at Bury Mill gauging station and abstraction rates since April 05 at Piggotts End and Marlows. ABa also discussed in more detail Section 7 of the report: the Options Appraisal Overview and reported that a cost benefit analysis will be undertaken shortly. The conclusion of the report recommends Option 7: to remove the weir structure at Bury Mill and regrade and divert groundwater into the Mill Race. ABa reported the water currently goes into a storm drain, through a flood relief pipe and into Kings Langley. Mike Heylin (MH) expressed concern about the Gade flow, in particular the capacity of the flood relief channel by the road bridge. MH reported that the water levels and its management below the mill need a lot of investment and suggested that British Waterways need to be involved. ABa said that any implementation of works would be decided by Dacorum Borough Council and the Environment Agency. ABa also commented that a further Gade workshop will be held on 12 June 2008. Rob Sage (RS) asked Defwg members to contact ABa to comment/discuss any changes to the document. RH asked about costings for option 7 of the plan. ABa said he will have the costings before the workshop. ABa reported on ideas raised in a workshop on 29 March 07 and suggested it may prove difficult to implement in some locations, due to the negotiation with landowners. MH asked about the survey results at Noke Mill. ABa to investigate further to get the results of the survey. Miles Morgan (MM) reported that the EA will give an official view by the end of October for a final decision to take the project forward. MH suggested that British Waterways are invited to the Gade Workshop on June 12 2008. ABa to invite British Waterways. 5. DEFWG Website – Roger Hands/ Petrina Llewellyn RH reported that the website is progressing well with lots of articles. RH thanked the people who were involved and asked for any general comments and to give any feedback to Petrina Llewellyn (PL). RH also highlighted that the website is apolitical. The local Gazette newspaper is also interested in writing an article about it. John Norris has looked at Clive Agnew’s article and reported a lack of recent data. MM agreed that the Chiltern East rainfall figures could be used for the website article. RH asked if Allen Beechey (Abe) could write an article related to the Ver and Bulbourne. Abe agreed to write article for Defwg website. RH reported that links to the Chilterns Chalk Stream Project, EA and Three Valleys Water could be added to the website. RH to investigate further. 6. Resource Stress RH highlighted the importance of resource stress and the effect on increasing development and the impact to the local area. RH suggested the need for more influence, such as support from local MPs etc. RS suggested that Defwg members look into the Draft Water Resources Management Plan on the Three Valleys Water website. The website is www.3valleys.co.uk and provides information about predicted water usage. RS reported that the increasing metering should reduce water consumption and when most houses have meters, tariffs can be used more. RS also highlighted the problem of locating where leaks in pipework are. Three Valleys Water aim by 2015 to get 70% of households metered in the South East, to help with water pressure. RS suggested that when people become more aware about the overall demand and pressure on water, this may increase the political will to conserve water more efficiently. MH reported that there needs to be more available information to help with water efficiency, e.g. spray tap sets. MM is to provide more information on appliances and will send to Defwg members. RH also enquired about the plan for the Water Gardens. The EA is currently looking into the plans, especially with regard to more flow. RS reported that using mdf material can help change water levels, e.g. with the use of stop boards and may be a sensible way forward. RH reported that he had a meeting 3 months ago with the EA, but has heard nothing further. MM to look into this further. 7. Action planning project for Bulbourne, Gade and Ver - Petrina Llewellyn PL reported she has developed a draft plan from the comments received from the consultation event and had a meeting with Melanie Challis (MC) from the EA and Abe in February 2008 to develop the plan further. MC agreed to make the amendments from the meeting and update the plan and AB to compile some maps. When completed, PL will then, as agreed, circulate to Defwg members for further consultation and input. 8. AOB MM agreed to undertake an EA presentation for the next Defwg meeting. 9. DONM To be confirmed in the autumn.		ALL/ Aba Aba MM Aba All ABe RH MM MM Abe/ MC/ PL MM