Dacorum Environmental Forum Water Group
Held at Council Chambers Berkhamsted Town Council
Wednesday 22nd April 2009 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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Clare Covington, Dacorum Borough Council |
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Brian Pettet - UGFCA |
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Cllr Brian Jones, Northchurch Parish Council |
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Beryl Buckingham, Rivers and Wetlands Conservation Group, Chilterns Society |
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Miles Morgan, Water Resources Officer, Environment Agency |
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Rob Sage, Water Resource Manager, Veolia Water |
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Melanie Challis, Conservation Officer, Environment Agency Roger Lerry, Rivers and Wetlands Conservation Group, Chilterns Society Jean de Selincourt, Chilterns Society |
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1. Apologies |
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John Norris, Rivers and Wetlands Conservation Group, Chilterns Society |
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Andy Hardstaff, West & Southern Area Manager Countryside Management Service Victor Brooks, Chairman, Water End and Upper Gade Valley Preservation Society Ian Richardson , General Manager, Box Moor Trust |
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Allen Beechey, Chilterns Chalk Stream Project Officer Chilterns AONB |
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Betty Patterson, DEF Water Group |
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John Fisher, Ver Valley Society Andy Webb, Ver Valley Society James Clifton, Regeneration Manager, British Waterways Alex Back, Hydrogeologist, Water Resources, Three Valleys Water Marion Baker, DEF member
2. Approval of minutes 15 November 2008 The minutes were approved and signed as a fair record by the chair.
3. Matters Arising |
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Roger Hands (RH) reported about the proposed couple of dates to visit Berkhamsted Sewage Works and that he had not received any information yet, but will chase.
The Dacorum Environmental Forum is pleased with how the Defwg is working. They are to set up a biodiversity group throughout the borough.
RH is to write to the press and MPs re: Water issues and did write to Offwatt regarding resource stress and copied letter to Mike Penning MP.
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RH |
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4. Water Framework Directive
RH reported that everyone has the opportunity to look at the Water Framework Directive newsletter and there was a lot of information and issues raised.
RH reported that the Defwg has been represented and contributed at 3 workshops on the subject: at the Fielder Centre, Hatfield on the 14 July 08, 12 March 09 a Common Ground workshop for agricultural advisors in London, and 2nd April 09 about the nature/ biodiversity of the rivers at Reading.
Mike Heylin reported about the problem of lack of funding for this work from Defra.
Rob Sage (RS) welcomed the work in the Water Framework Directive, especially on the catchment management side. RS reported that the water companies were uncertain about the water sustainability options post 2015 as these may have an impact on their duty to met public demand for water and their cost benefit has not yet been demonstrated.
RH also reported requesting at the Reading workshop about using the Gade as an option to highlight as a flagship project for watercourses. RH to write about this as part of the consultation.
It is now over halfway through the draft Thames River Basin Management Plan consultation, which runs from 22 December 2008 – 22 June 2009. The website address is www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wfd
5. Current position of River Gade - Miles Morgan
Miles Morgan reported that the EA have appointed consultants regarding the pipe at Bury Mill Weir. Once they have traced the route they will be doing some levelling assessments. The EA has secured funding to look at river restoration options. Costings into weirs removal is also being looked at.
MM reported that Cow roast and new road were pumping last week.
MM informed the defwg that the impact of pre and post new ground abstraction was being looked at. An initial report will be undertaken this year (June – December 2009). MM welcomed any shared defwg views would be useful.
6. DEFWG Website – Roger Hands/ Petrina Llewellyn RH also welcomed feedback from the group about the website. RH raised the importance of us all updating the webpages when different matters progress.
RH encouraged people to write new articles for the website.
RS asked whether the website was being monitored. Petrina Llewellyn (PL) reported that is was and each page could be looked at on a monthly and weekly basis.
Alex Back to write an article about the Water Framework Directive on the defwg website.
6. Action plan & strategy for rivers Bulbourne, Gade and Ver - Melanie Challis/ Petrina Llewellyn
MC and PL presented the draft revised river river restoration documents to Defwg members (covering a strategy and action plan) . PL delayed circulation of previous restoration documents to defwg members due to updates with the documents. MC/PL agreed the there will be a period of consultation of the documents and the deadline for consultation would be the end of June 2009. PL to circulate documents with defwg minutes.
It was reported by RH that the documents should state there was not a lot of information featured about the lower Gade due to it being heavily urbanised.
Clare Covington reported about a development at Sappi graphics (near the Apsley site) and they were having an island type of development. There was issues if there will be enough biodiversity enhancements to the development.
RH reported that there was a lot of protection required above and below Two Waters and there was a need to protect the canal also.
The location of Church Pool was clarified at the meeting (located by the nursery/ garden centre, not far from the church).
5. AOB N/A
6. DONM 18 November 2009 at 7.30pm. |
RH
ABa
PL |
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