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Tag: Environment Agency

  • PRESS RELEASE : Flood information centre opens in Hebden Bridge [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Flood information centre opens in Hebden Bridge [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 29 August 2023.

    A new flood information centre has opened in Hebden Bridge, to help keep the community updated with progress to reduce the risk of flooding in the town.

    The Environment Agency has opened its new Flood Information Centre at 4 Hardcastle House, Valley Road in Hebden Bridge this week.

    The centre will be open on Mondays and Fridays from 10am to 2pm, where people can stop by to speak with members of the project team and view information about the flood alleviation schemes for Hebden Bridge Town Centre, Stubbing Holme Road and Erringden Hillside. There will also be some information on display about what else is happening to reduce flood risk across the valley.

    Christian Merriman, Senior Flood Risk Management Advisor with the Environment Agency, said:

    This flood information centre means we can be based in the heart of the community to provide regular updates ahead of construction and for the duration of the project, providing information and answering any queries or concerns the community might have.

    We will also have more events lined up to keep the community updated on progress of the individual projects, but in the meantime encourage people to stop by and meet us, and also keep checking Eye on Calderdale for updates.

    Cllr Scott Patient, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Active Travel and Housing, said:

    We welcome the new flood information centre as one of the ways for residents to keep up-to-date with the flood alleviation schemes.

    The planned works are an important part of the ongoing partnership efforts to protect our communities from the increased flood risk that we live with because of climate change.

    The schemes represent a significant investment in Hebden Bridge, showing our commitment to a thriving future for the town.

    Andy Bray from Calder River Trust said:

    We are really pleased that the flood information centre is now open to the community. To have somewhere that the public can visit and meet members of the project team in person will be really beneficial, as the work progresses.

    The Hebden Bridge Flood Alleviation Scheme will improve protection for approximately 400 properties in the town and will consist of increasing flood protection from Hebden Water and River Calder, improving the drainage of surface water with a series of gully systems and a pumping station and construction of a canal flood overflow. The planning application is currently forecast to be submitted in early 2024.

    The Stubbing Holme Road Flood Alleviation Scheme will improve protection for approximately 56 properties and will consist of increasing flood protection from River Calder and Rochdale Canal. The planning application is currently expected to be submitted later in 2023.

    The Erringden Hillside Flood Alleviation Scheme will improve protection for approximately 60 properties and will consist of property flood resilience measures, highway drainage improvement works and some natural flood management.

  • PRESS RELEASE : New flood warning services launched in Leicestershire and Derby [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : New flood warning services launched in Leicestershire and Derby [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 24 August 2023.

    The flood warning service in Leicestershire and Derby has been extended to ensure more people than ever are warned about an imminent risk of flooding.

    • New flood warnings added at nine locations across Leicestershire and Derby
    • Hundreds more property owners will now get alerts if they are at risk of flooding
    • Part of national investment to extend the flood warning service

    The Environment Agency has launched eight new flood warning services at locations across Leicestershire and one new warning in Derby that will help to warn hundreds more homeowners of the risk of flooding.

    Flood warnings inform the public about an imminent risk of flooding to their home or business and help people make informed decisions about how to respond.

    New flood warnings are being introduced at the following communities:

    Leicester City

    • Bushby Brook at Thurncourt, Evington and North Evington.
    • Bushby Brook at Thurnby.
    • Melton Brook.
    • Evington Brook at North Evington and Spinney Hills.
    • Willow Brook at North Evington and Belgrave.
    • Braunstone Brook.
    • Thurnby Brook at Thurnby.

    Leicestershire

    • Lubbesthorpe and Thorpe Astley Brooks at Braunstone Town.

    Derby City

    • Markeaton and Bramble Brooks

    By signing up for flood warnings, property owners will be alerted by phone, email or text when flooding is expected.

    There are three types of messages – Flood Alert, Flood Warning and Severe Flood Warning. Each type can be triggered by particular weather or river conditions which cause flooding. Flood warnings and alerts are not available in all areas.

    Residents are encouraged to prepare if they receive a Flood Alert which could mean packing a bag that includes medicines, insurance documents and anything else they wouldn’t want to lose if flooding were to take place. A Flood Warning calls on people to act now which means turning off gas, water and electricity and moving family and pets to safety. A Severe Flood Warning means you are in immediate danger and to follow advice from emergency services.

    Paul Lockhart, Flood and Coastal Risk Manager for the East Midlands, said:

    “We want to ensure that everyone has as much time as possible to prepare for flooding which is why we’re pleased that there are more communities across Leicestershire and Derby which will now be able to receive our free flood warning service.”

    Additional funding from the Government has enabled the Environment Agency to invest in the latest technology and infrastructure needed to provide a flood warning service in more than 200 communities across England. In total, an additional 62,000 properties at risk of flooding will receive flood warnings between now and the end of 2023.

    To check whether your home is located in this new flood warning area visit https://check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/. If your home does lie within the flood warning area it is vital that you sign up to flood warnings to better protect yourselves and loved ones.

    To sign up to the flood warning service, the Environment Agency is encouraging people to register directly with them by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188, or visit https://www.gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings where you can register yourself or vulnerable family members/friends.

    Background information

    • 5.2 million properties in England are at risk of flooding
    • The average cost of flood damage to a home is £30,000
    • The average cost of flooding to a business is £82,000
    • If you are flooded, temporary accommodation costs on average £10,000
    • If you are flooded you are likely to be out of your home for an average of 5 months

    Know what to do when you receive a flood warning and download our three point flood plan – https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/what-to-do-in-a-flood

  • PRESS RELEASE : Humber flood defences £29m upgrade begins at Stallingborough [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Humber flood defences £29m upgrade begins at Stallingborough [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 23 August 2023.

    A £29m project to manage the risk of flooding to people and major industry in north-east Lincolnshire is now underway.

    The Environment Agency scheme will see improvements made to 4.5 kilometres of coastal defences along part of the Humber estuary’s south bank. The defences will benefit 2,300 properties, nationally important infrastructure, vital industry, and areas outlined by North East Lincolnshire Council for future development.

    This is the third phase of the Stallingborough Sea Defence Improvement Scheme, which has repaired and strengthened sea walls between Immingham and Grimsby in stages over the last 15 years.

    This latest stage of work will see the installation of large rocks called rock armour along 3 kilometres of the seaward side of the flood defence. The rocks will cover from the Middle Drain to the northwest to the New Cut Drain to the southeast. The remaining 1.5 kilometres of defences will be repaired. In addition, the 4 river outfalls will also be repaired and improved to make them more sustainable and resilient to flooding.

    The majority of the work will be undertaken over 3 years, with pauses through the winter to reduce ecological impacts to the seaward side of the defence.

    Dom Freestone, Operations Manager for the Environment Agency, said:

    Low-lying communities along the Humber are at high risk of tidal flooding and rising sea levels.

    Works to improve the flood defences are vital to manage that threat and will help drive business confidence and investment in the area. But despite our best efforts, flooding can still happen.

    That’s why we urge people to prepare and plan for the worst, including by signing up to receive flood warnings by visiting gov.uk.

    Rock armour is one of the most sustainable and low-carbon options available and minimises the potential impact on the area’s internationally important habitats. It will help fortify the walls and prevent the sea undermining them, ensuring they continue to reduce flood risk for at least a further 25 years, taking account of climate change predictions.

    The work is expected to generate economic benefits valued at £1.1 billion over the next 25 years.

    Councillor Stewart Swinburn, Cabinet member for the Environment at North East Lincolnshire Council, said:

    Our coastline is an incredibly important one to protect, not only for the wonderful natural habitat, but also for the economic and industrial growth on the South Humber shore”.

    The Humber Estuary’s natural tidal flow is something we have to embrace and work with, but by providing this investment in flood protection measures, the risk to people and businesses in this area is significantly less.

    Stallingborough’s coastal walls were originally built following devastating floods in 1953. They are now at increasing risk of damage from rising sea levels and more frequent storms.

    The Stallingborough Sea Defence Improvement Scheme is part of wider investment plan to manage tidal flood risk across the Humber estuary, outlined within the Environment Agency’s 2008 Humber Flood Risk Management Strategy.

    The Environment Agency urges people to plan ahead for flooding by finding out if their property is in an at-risk area; signing up for free flood warnings; and knowing in advance what to do. Further information is available on all these steps and more at Check for flooding – GOV.UK and by calling Floodline on 0345 988 1188.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Environment Agency investigates bathing water quality at Bridlington South [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Environment Agency investigates bathing water quality at Bridlington South [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 17 August 2023.

    The Environment Agency has started a project to investigate the reasons behind poor water quality at Bridlington South beach, in East Yorkshire.

    The project – funded jointly by the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water and East Riding of Yorkshire Council – aims to identify and better understand the sources of pollution that are impacting water quality.

    To date, the Environment Agency’s investigations have been able to identify some of the potential contributing sources of bacteria using microbial source tracking techniques.

    This has shown that the bathing water can be impacted by humans, seabirds and dogs at different times. However, work to date has not been able to drill down into the level of detail required to fully understand causes of pollution. This project aims to help gather more of this data.

    To help with this, the Environment Agency are undertaking a number of investigative sampling days in Bridlington over the summer taking samples every half an hour – from 8am to 6pm – on specific days throughout the bathing water season.

    Samples are being taken at Bridlington South monitoring point, Bridlington Harbour and Bridlington North monitoring point and will be analysed initially for Ecoli and IE – the bacteria which are used to provide bathing water classification results.

    After collection, samples are refrigerated and sent to the Environment Agency’s microbiology laboratory in Exeter. During the autumn, their microbiology team will carry out more detailed analysis to try to establish the origin of any bacteria found in the samples.

    Claire Campbell, the Environment Agency’s technical bathing waters expert, said:

    Whilst we will always strive for improvements, overall bathing water quality has improved significantly over the last decade – with a continuing upward trend – due to robust regulation and working with partners. In most places bathing water is now better than it has been for many years.

    We are, however, keen to find out the detail of what is causing our poorer results, so that action can be taken by the relevant people to improve our bathing waters.

    This project in Bridlington will help us identify the bacterial inputs and better understand the sources of pollution, so that collectively we can work together to improve water quality.

    Environment Agency monitoring plays an important role in how we protect our valuable waterways and safeguard the health of bathers. During the bathing water season, the Environment Agency carry out a robust sampling programme as specified in the Bathing Water regulations. These are set in law and are the same as those carried out across the rest of Europe. Samples are taken weekly and this information is used to produce an annual classification based on four years’ of data.

    Most of our bathing waters have consistently high quality when we measure and classify these against the standards of the Bathing Water Regulations. Across Yorkshire we have seen a rise in the number of Excellent bathing waters – up by four in the last year, with 89% of bathing waters rated as Good or Excellent – in line with last year’s results.

    The Environment Agency continue to work collaboratively as part of the Yorkshire Bathing Water Partnership, to understand the root of water quality problems and ensure people can enjoy cleaner, healthier waters.

    Information on all 424 designated bathing water sites and any forecasted drops in water quality will be published on the Swimfo: Find a Bathing Water website. This provides immediate access to information on every bathing water in England.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Construction company Costain civil sanction sees charity get cash boost [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Construction company Costain civil sanction sees charity get cash boost [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 17 August 2023.

    Construction company Costain Limited will donate £55,000 to Tyne Rivers Trust after polluting the River Don during a major upgrade to the A19 in South Tyneside.

    An investigation by the Environment Agency found that the company had breached its environmental permit when contaminated water was washed down highway drains and into the River Don.

    It submitted an Enforcement Undertaking to the Environment Agency, which has now been accepted.

    An Enforcement Undertaking is a voluntary offer made by companies and individuals to make amends for their offending, and usually includes a donation to a wildlife charity to carry out environmental improvements in the local area.

    Costain Limited had an environmental permit which allowed it to discharge water treated by a sediment treatment facility into the River Don during work to the A19 at Testos roundabout.

    Plume of sediment seen in the river

    On 6 December 2019, whilst works were being carried out, an Environment Agency officer in the area reported a plume of sediment in the river.

    Following a dry spell of weather, Costain Limited had decided to jet wash and sweep the road surface to remove a build up of mud. However, the road sweeper was not powerful enough to suck up all of the dirty water and instead the contaminated water ran directly into highway drains, bypassing the company’s sediment treatment measures, and into the River Don.

    The silt in the water was vastly in excess of what the permit allowed, and it caused discolouration for at least 500 metres.

    After the incident the company introduced a new monitoring and maintenance regime as well as training for site staff, and no further incidents occurred. There was no long-term ecological impact on the river.

    Environment Agency investigating officer Josh Laidler said:

    Companies carrying out any major development work have a responsibility to ensure they abide by their permits to protect the local environment, and we will take action when pollution occurs.

    While we will always take forward prosecutions in the most serious cases, Enforcement Undertakings are an effective enforcement tool to allow companies to put things right and contribute to environmental improvements.

    They allow polluters to correct and restore the harm caused to the environment and prevent repeat incidents by improving their procedures, helping ensure future compliance with environmental requirements.

    Tyne Rivers Trust will use the donation on projects that will improve water quality in the River Don catchment.

    The Tyne Rivers Trust is a registered environmental charity dedicated to improving the River Tyne and its catchment through education, tackling pollution and practical conservation.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Consultation launched on unlimited fines for the worst polluters [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Consultation launched on unlimited fines for the worst polluters [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 15 August 2023.

    The Environment Agency launches eight-week consultation on changes to variable monetary penalties.

    • The Environment Agency launches eight-week consultation on changes to variable monetary penalties.
    • Changes will scrap the £250,000 cap on civil penalties and significantly broaden their scope to target a wider range of environmental offences.
    • New enforcement powers will allow the Environment Agency to apply penalties that are quicker and easier to enforce.

    The Environment Agency has today (15 August) launched a consultation on changes to variable monetary penalties – financial penalties that can be imposed for certain environmental offences.

    The consultation will run for eight weeks and will close on 8 October. The consultation seeks views on when penalties are used, how they are calculated and the appeals process.

    This follows the government announcing that it will lift the current limit of £250,000 that the Environment Agency can impose directly on operators, as well as expanding variable monetary penalties to cover more offences under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.

    This offers regulators a quicker method of enforcement than lengthy and costly criminal prosecutions – although the most serious cases will continue to be taken through criminal proceedings.

    The changes will ensure regulators have the right tools to drive compliance across a range of sectors, strengthening enforcement and holding all who hold environmental permits to greater account – from energy and water companies to waste operators and incinerators.

    All future environmental fines and penalties from water companies will be put into a new Water Restoration Fund, which will be re-invested back into the environment by supporting local groups and community-led schemes.

    Environment Agency Executive Director John Leyland said:

    These new enforcement powers will be an extra tool in our armoury to hold polluters to account.

    They will act as a further deterrent – boosting compliance across a range of sectors and helping us provide stronger protection to the environment, communities and nature.

    Minister for Environmental Quality and Resilience Rebecca Pow said:

    Polluters must always pay – by lifting the cap on these sanctions, we are simultaneously toughening our enforcement tools and expanding where regulators can use them.

    This consultation builds on government action to increase investment, toughen enforcement and tighten regulation and will make sure there is a proportionate punishment for operators that breach their permits and harm our rivers, seas and precious habitats.

    There are clear provisions in the Sentencing Council guidelines that will ensure the level of penalties levied are proportionate to the degree of environmental harm and culpability. These include safeguards to ensure the operator’s ability to pay, the size of the operators, and the degree of responsibility and harm, amongst others – all of which are taken into account when imposing a penalty. The penalties will only be applied where it is shown beyond reasonable doubt that an offence has occurred.

    Notes to editors:

    • The Environment Agency has launched this consultation because, following the government confirming the changes, the Environment Agency will amend its Enforcement and Sanctions Policy to provide detail on how the new powers will be used and how the penalties will be calculated. The Environment Agency is legally required to consult on proposed changes to their policy and give greater clarity to those who may be affected by them.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Pick up your butts! Cigarettes top plastic litter in rivers [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Pick up your butts! Cigarettes top plastic litter in rivers [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 10 August 2023.

    Volunteers cleared rubbish on England’s waterways for Plasticblitz. Cigarette butts most common plastic item found in 2 weeks of litter-picking.

    Bringing together volunteers from all walks of life, the annual Plasticblitz has people clearing rubbish from rivers and riverbanks, recording what they find and recycling it where they can.

    Organised by environmental charity Thames21, the Plasticblitz sees community groups, environmental charities, rotary clubs and Environment Agency staff taking part in a mass litter-pick and citizen science event on England’s waterways.

    Over two weeks this summer:

    • 585 volunteers cleared around 58km of river.
    • 699 bags of rubbish were collected.
    • 71 per cent of recorded waste was plastic.
    • Cigarette ends were the most numerous plastic items, followed by drinks lids and food wrappers.

    Cigarette butts are believed to be the no.1 most-littered single-use plastic item in the world. The vast majority of cigarette filters contain plastic fibres.

    Maria Herlihy, a waterways manager at the Environment Agency, said:

    Plasticblitz is a great initiative and we were happy to take part again this year.

    Although the figures for plastic pollution are shocking, it’s always great to see how much difference determined volunteers can make to our rivers.

    And everyone has a part to play – by reducing their plastic waste, and disposing of it responsibly. Please – pick up your butts!

    This is the first year that the Plasticblitz expanded beyond the Thames basin.

    Chris Coode, chief executive of Thames21, said:

    Since 2021, Thames21 has worked with Environment Agency teams, communities and river action groups to remove plastic waste from the River Thames and its tributaries.

    Now all UK rivers can be included in this annual citizen science event, and we hope to see even more people participating next year.

    Water quality and the health of rivers must improve. As we keep on reiterating, plastic litter has no place in our rivers or the natural environment. So it is great that the Plasticblitz has brought community groups together for the third time in the space of two years to raise awareness of the issue and help us gather vital evidence to push for change. Pollution is a widespread problem and we must all act together to combat it.

    For the first time, Plasticblitz partners joined forces with a new charity, ReAP UK, which specialises in recycling aquatic plastic.

    Tony Booker, of ReAP UK, said:

    We offer a route to recycling for plastics collected by volunteer groups litter-picking in their local areas. Once processed, even dirty plastics – yes, cigarette butts – can be turned into useful items like benches, birdboxes, even otter holts – and returned to the areas the plastic was found.

    We’re excited to be working with the Plasticblitz and look forward to working with the partners again in the future.

    Find out more about the 2023 Plasticblitz at https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/fd09faa432324f058a9e4b38f5439593 – and keep an eye on the Thames21 website for information about signing up for next year’s! www.thames21.org.uk

    • Thames21 joined forces with the Environment Agency and Rotary International to call on volunteering, community and environmental groups to take part in a mass clean-up of plastic waste from rivers across the UK between Saturday 27 May and Sunday 11 June 2023.
    • Participating groups were asked to collect data, where possible, on what types of litter they encountered, allowing the Plasticblitz partners to gain an idea of what the most problematic items are. This data feeds into the Europe-wide ‘Preventing Plastic Pollution’ Project: preventingplasticpollution.com
    • Plastic pollution is a serious and growing problem within our rivers. Plastic waste threatens wildlife through ingestion and entanglement, and slowly breaks down into tiny plastic fragments called microplastics that can work their way into the food chain.
    • Once plastic enters our rivers, no-one is responsible for removing it. Many of our rivers are therefore effectively acting as plastic taps, allowing a constant stream of plastic from inland areas to flow into the sea. Some 80 per cent of plastic pollution found in the sea has passed through rivers and streams on its way there.
    • During last year’s Plasticblitz, which covered the Thames river basin, 461 volunteers collected 437 binbags-full of rubbish along 45km of river.
    • Thames21 is an environmental charity that works with communities to improve the River Thames and its tributaries. Find out more at www.thames21.org.uk
    • ReAP UK encourages the collection of plastic waste from rivers, canals, lakes, and oceans, ensuring it is properly recycled and kept out of landfill. Find out more at www.reap-uk.org
  • PRESS RELEASE : Start date for major overhaul of Plymouth flood defence barrier [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Start date for major overhaul of Plymouth flood defence barrier [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 2 August 2023.

    The Environment Agency’s major £3m repair and maintenance project of Plymouth’s lock gates is due to start in September.

    Work is set to start in September 2023 on a major £3m repair and maintenance project for Plymouth’s lock gates. They form a key part of the city’s coastal defences, protecting hundreds of homes and businesses from flooding, and providing access to the marina and fish quays in the Sutton Harbour and Barbican area of the city.

    The project is being managed by the Environment Agency, with funding from the UK Government, and will see the replacement of worn lock gate sills and other key maintenance items. Work will be carried out by leading UK construction and infrastructure services specialists Kier.

    Sutton Harbour Company, which is the Statutory Harbour Authority, and which operates the lock, Plymouth Fisheries and Sutton Harbour Marina, has been working in close collaboration and partnership with the Environment Agency and Kier in planning for the project and how operations and access will be maintained in the harbour.

    Following detailed consultation with harbour users, programming of the project has been significantly revised and the scheme will now be carried out in two phases, with the aim of minimising, wherever possible, disruption to the harbour’s fishing and leisure fleets.

    • Work to the outer gates will take place between 4th September 2023 – 8th December 2023. However, there are no planned restrictions on the operation of the lock gates after 7th November 2023, while the remainder of the first phase works are completed.
    • Work on the stoplog gate across the old harbour entrance is planned to take place between 13th November and 17th November, during this period the permissive footpath across the lock will be closed.
    • Work to the inner gates will take place between 11th March 2024 – 17th June 2024, but as above there are no planned restrictions on the operation of the lock gates after 16th May 2024, while the remainder of the second phase works are completed.
    • A detailed access timetable showing periods when access to the lock will be restricted has been published on the project’s dedicated website, www.lockgates.info. Mariners are being encouraged wherever possible to plan their trips around this timetable.

    There will be some activity on the quayside for a week before each set of works start setting up welfare facilities and work compounds.

    For the majority of the works the lock will still function on a tidal freeflow basis (generally up to three hours either side of high tide with more limited access during working hours), with a limited number of 24-hour closures clearly set out in the access timetable. Access will be maintained for pedestrians using the swing bridge across the lock.

    Where necessary, mitigation measures are being put in place to support the continued operation of Plymouth’s fishing fleet and marina leisure users. These measures include pre-arranged back-up “emergency” alternative landing sites with truck access to the Fish Quay, and providing temporary emergency berthing arrangements for vessels arriving outside periods of lock access.

    Documents detailing the mitigation measures have been circulated to harbour users and are available to download here.

    Some preliminary dive surveys took place earlier in July prior to work starting in September but did not impact on the operation of the lock.

    A Spokesperson from the Environment Agency said: “We are pleased to be able to undertake this challenging project to repair the seals between the gates the bottom of the lock and to allow it to continue to provide flood defences for the 600 homes and businesses surrounding the harbour, as well as 24-hour access to the harbour for vessels to the fish quays and marina.

    “We and our Framework Contractor Kier have been working closely with Sutton Harbour Company and with their customers and have developed a pragmatic programme of work to reduce the impact of the works as far as is practicable.

    “Our contractor and our project team will continue to work with Sutton Harbour to make sure that up-to-date information is provided to the harbour users for the duration of the work.”

    A spokesman from Sutton Harbour Company, said: “The tidal gates are a critical part of Plymouth’s coastal flood defences and we are pleased to see such a significant investment taking place in their repair and refurbishment to ensure the continuing effectiveness of the tidal barrage for another decade.

    “Throughout the planning for this project, our overriding aim has been to maintain operations in the harbour to the maximum extent possible and minimise disruption for harbour users during these essential works.

    “We have worked with the fishing community and berth holders and engaged expert independent consultants to develop mitigation plans to ensure the ongoing operation of the fishing industry and to meet the needs of leisure users.”

    Updates will be provided via www.lockgates.info, social media and direct to harbour users, and via regular VHF broadcasts by the Lock Team to vessel skippers.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Illegal angling on the rise [August 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Illegal angling on the rise [August 2023]

    The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 2 August 2023.

    The Environment Agency is warning those who fish illegally that the net is closing in after a recent rise in angling offences in the South East.

    Over the past 6 months, our South East Fisheries Enforcement Officers have issued over 360 offence report forms to illegal anglers. This is already 40 more than this time last year. To crack down on offenders, fisheries enforcement patrols are being stepped up at rivers and fisheries across the region this summer.

    Fishing illegally can incur a fine of up to £2,500 and offenders can also have their fishing equipment seized. The Environment Agency inspect rod licences 24/7, 7 days a week to check on cases of illegal fishing and those caught cheating the system face prosecution.

    An Environment Agency spokesperson said:

    This concerning recent rise in illegal fishing is not only harmful to fish populations but also has a detrimental effect on the environment and surrounding wildlife, as well as cheating law-abiding anglers.

    People who don’t buy a licence are not only cheating other anglers and the future of the sport but are running the risk of criminal conviction and a fine. There is no excuse – it costs just £33 for a whole year, and you can buy a fishing licence online at: www.gov.uk/get-a-fishing-licence

    We track criminals on an intelligence led basis using information gathered by ourselves, the police and other partners and reports from the public. We urge anyone to report illegal fishing as quickly as possible by calling our incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

    Any angler aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water needs a licence to fish. A 1-day licence costs from just £6.60, and an annual licence currently costs from just £33 (concessions available). Junior licences are free for 13 – 16-year-olds.

    The Environment Agency carries out enforcement work all year round and is supported by partners including the police and the Angling Trust. Fisheries enforcement work is intelligence-led, targeting known hot-spots and where illegal fishing is reported.

    Recent prosecutions in Kent

    Following cases brought by the Environment Agency in March and June 2023 at Hastings and Folkestone Magistrates, the courts have ordered four men to pay a combined total £720, in fines, £450 in costs and £288 victim surcharges. A total of £1,478. The offenders were:

    • Robert George Brealy 27, of Herne Bay was caught fishing without a licence at Longshaw Fisheries in Canterbury. Fined £247.
    • Brandan Woodger 23, of Aylesford was caught fishing without a licence at Orchard Place Farm, Tonbridge. Fined £443.
    • Rosen Vasilev 62, of Ilford was caught fishing without a licence at Hanningfield Reservoir, Chelmsford. Fined £443.
    • Marcus Taylor 28, of Tunbridge Wells was caught fishing without a licence and also fined for when fishing, failed, when required to do so, to state his name and address to a voluntary water bailiff at Elphicks Farm Lakes in Kent. Fined £345.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Variation to Hinkley Point C operational water discharge activity [July 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Variation to Hinkley Point C operational water discharge activity [July 2023]

    The press release issued by the Environment Agency on 31 July 2023.

    Variation issued today to an environmental permit for Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, to allow for a change in water discharge activity at the site.

    • Changes to the current permit to allow the discharge of seawater through a fish recovery and return (FRR) system.
    • Sets compliance limits on the discharge from the FRR system.
    • Removes all references and conditions (or parts of conditions) relating to use of the proposed acoustic fish deterrent (AFD) system, as an AFD system is not required to reduce the water quality pollution risk from HPC’s fish recovery and return (FRR) system discharge.

    The Environment Agency has today issued a variation to an environmental permit (EPR/HP3228XT) for Hinkley Point C (HPC) nuclear power station, to allow for a change in water discharge activity at the site.

    The original permit variation, regulates the operational water discharge activities from HPC – these are discharges of non-radioactive liquid effluents:

    • returned cooling water from the turbine condensers
    • trade process effluents from the various plant systems (including those that maintain water purity and chemistry to keep the best operating conditions and maximise efficiency)
    • treated sewage effluent (from staff welfare facilities)

    The varied water discharge activity permit we have issued today will now additionally regulate the discharge of seawater through a FRR system.

    As a result of our assessment on the impact of the FRR system discharge, we have included compliance limits on the volume, rate and total biomass discharged from the FRR system’s outlet.

    We have:

    • removed all references and conditions (or parts of conditions) relating to the proposed acoustic fish deterrent (AFD) system.
    • concluded that there would be no adverse effect on the integrity of the relevant European designated sites (in relation to pollution from regulated discharges to waters) if there is no AFD system in place. This includes those sites functionally linked to the Severn Estuary. The discharges will not result in the condition of relevant SSSIs deteriorating or prevent them from improving or recovering.
    • also concluded that the permit variation will not cause the current status of the water bodies to deteriorate or prevent them from achieving their objectives.

    The varied water discharge activity permit also includes the requirement to use an additional operating technique and an improvement condition. It also includes two pre-operational conditions which need Environment Agency approval before the proposed power station can be commissioned or begin to operate. These are included to make sure that NNB Generation Company (Hinkley Point C) Limited builds and operates the proposed power station according to the commitments made in its permit variation application.

    The Environment Agency’s Hinkley Point C Project Manager Simon Barlow said “This is the final stage of our process to determine a change requested by the operator for its water discharge activities at Hinkley C nuclear power station. We have decided to grant the permit variation but have added new limits and conditions in the permit to protect people and the environment.”

    Change to permit follows public consultations

    The decision follows two rounds of public consultation – on the application from 24 January to 2 March 2023 and on the proposed decision and draft permit from 25 April to 25 May 2023.

    A summary of topics raised, information about which organisations responded and how we considered all relevant issues is included in our final decision document.

    We are grateful to everyone who took the time to respond to the consultations and attend online consultation meetings.

    The decision documents, a public summary and permits are available at Hinkley Point C: water discharge activity permit variation – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

    Background information

    The Environment Agency is the independent environmental regulator for the nuclear industry in England. We make sure that nuclear power stations meet high standards of environmental protection.

    The Environment Agency regulates specific environmental matters at nuclear sites in England by issuing environmental permits. These permits cover site preparation, construction, operation and decommissioning.

    As well as regulating the site, through these environmental permits, the Environment Agency also provides advice and information to the Planning Inspectorate, including the protection of water quality and ecology, and flood and coastal risk management.

    EDF’s company NNB Generation Company (Hinkley Point C) Ltd is building a new, twin reactor nuclear power station at the Hinkley site in west Somerset. Operation of the first reactor is expected in 2027.