Dacorum Environmental Forum Water Group
Held at Council Chambers Berkhamsted Town Council
Wednesday 5th November 2008 at 7:30pm
Chair Roger Hands
Minutes
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Attended |
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Petrina Llewellyn, Project Officer Countryside Management Service (Secretary) |
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Michael Heylin, Boxmoor Angling Society |
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Roger Hands, (Chair) DEF Water Group |
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Sylvia Davidson, Friends of the Earth, DEF Water Group |
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Clare Covington, Dacorum Borough Council |
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Alex Back, Hydrogeologist, Water Resources, Three Valleys Water |
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Cllr Brian Jones, Northchurch Parish Council |
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Beryl Buckingham, Wetlands & Water Group Chilterns Society |
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Allen Beechey, Chilterns Chalk Stream Project Officer Chilterns AONB |
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Miles Morgan, Water Resources Officer, Environment Agency |
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Peter Shardlow, Upper Gade Fly Fishers Association James Clifton, Regeneration Manager, British Waterways Marion Baker, DEF member |
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Betty Patterson, DEF Water Group John Fisher, Ver Valley Society |
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Melanie Challis, Conservation Officer, Environment Agency |
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1. Apologies |
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Rob Sage, Water Resource Manager, Veolia Water |
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John Norris, Wetlands & Water Group Chilterns Society |
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John Leonhardt, retired Field Studies Teacher Graeme Cannon, Property Manager, Ashridge Estate |
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Brian Pettet, Vice Chairman, Upper Gade Fly Fishers Association |
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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 Ian Richardson , General Manager, Box Moor Trust Martin Hicks, Herts Biological Records Centre Andy Webb, Ver Valley Society Clive Agnew, DEF Water Group Adam Egglesfield, Thames Water |
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2. Approval of minutes 14 May 2008 The minutes were approved and signed by the chair.
3. Matters Arising |
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Mike Heylin (MHe) reported there was a Gade flow problem at Two Waters. The Boxmoor Angling Society has been reviewing their lease at Durrant’s Hill and will inform people about its progress.
Roger Hands (RH) reported there was an article in the local press about clearing regrowth in the channel. The article highlighted good work of cutting reeds and other marginal plants to narrow the water channel..
RH reported that Adam Egglesfield will be providing a couple of dates to visit Berkhamsted Sewage Works next spring.
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4. Chairman’s Report – Issues of Focus 2009 - Roger Hands RH highlighted to the Defwg group the list of Issues of Focus 2009. RH welcomed other items to include for the Issues of Focus, but would like it released by January 2009.
5. Three Valleys Water River Gade Sustainability Study Working Party - Alex Back Alex Back (ABa) reported that Three Valleys Water are writing the final summary report, which is due to be finished by January 2009. The document looks at all the options/ monitoring (both groundwater and river) and also the cost/ benefit assessment of the options. ABa was encouraged that some of the options could be included in the works of the Hemel Hempstead redevelopment project. ABa will circulate the report early next year. ABa to email report to Petrina Llewellyn (PL). RH welcomed the report and support from ABa.
Miles Morgan (MM) is arranging a site visit to look into the costs/ benefits of the chalk stream restoration options. MM concluded that there are a lot of issues such as funding that need to be agreed. MM suggested that there needed to have an initial meeting to help assist with any bid for the works. MM stated that a consultant is going to undertake an initial visit/ scoping exercise.
MM agreed that the funding would come from the Water Resources budget. MHe also reported that the fisheries budget may have potential for funding.
6. Local Development Framework – Water Policy - Miles Morgan MM reported that the Local Development Framework (LDF) Water Policy is in its initial stages. The initial content asks if Dacorum Borough Council has a Water Cycle strategy. The Environment Agency thinks there is a major issue with water resources.
Brian Jones (BJ) raised concerns about water and other environmental impacts in Dacorum. Melanie Challis (MC) suggested looking at the Water Framework Directive.
MM also suggested writing any Defwg water concerns about water issues to local MPs. RH to write to local MPs and Shadow Minister about Defwg water concerns.
7. DEFWG Website – Roger Hands/ Petrina Llewellyn RH is pleased with the results of the website and that it is a good tool to publicise the concerns for water issues by Defwg . RH also welcomed feedback from the group about the website. Petrina Llewellyn (PL) thanked all the contributors to the website and reported that the search facility was very useful.
Marion Baker (MB) reported that the Buncefield webpage was the most used. RH reported that the website needs to be updated and agreed a link to the official Buncefield website should be put on. MM to suggest further improvements to the website. MM to add LDF Water Policy to Defwg website. RH thanked MB for her efforts. All agreed to have link to Chilterns Chalk Stream Project website outlining how to get access to the educational CD. MB to add link and text to Defwg website.
Betty Patterson (BP) suggested that there needs to be more catchy and simple stories on the Defwg website, to attract the general public / school children. Another recommendation was to change the style of font on the website, e.g. to Arial. BP to produce an ‘easy to read’ page for the education section of the website.
8. Action planning project for rivers Bulbourne, Gade and Ver - Petrina Llewellyn/ Melanie Challis. MC and PL presented the draft river restoration documents to Defwg members. Some of the ideas had come out of the November 06 consultation event RH reported that the whole of the River Bulboune, such as Cow Roast, the winterbourne sections and also the Bourne Gutter should be put on the maps.
MHe reported what does ‘In-channel Habitat Enhancement’ mean on the maps, as it needs to be defined more clearly.
PL to circulate updated river restoration documents with Defwg minutes, for comment. MC/PL agreed the there will be a 6-8 week period of consultation of the documents and looked forward to any feedback from Defwg members.
9. AOB
10. DONM To be confirmed in the spring. |
Aba
RH
MM
MB
BP
PL
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