Ruscombe Brook Action Group AGM

5The Ruscombe Brook Action Group AGM was on 15th Sept 7.30 at Randwick Village Hall - over 20 people turned up which wasn't bad considering we had 5 apologies and hadn't really advertised much - anyhow the photos here are a bit of a record of some of the two presentations by Water 21 and below there is als a summary of the AGM for local press.

We also had the Water for Life exhibition which has been touring the County - a Vision 21 project with Severn Trent Water.

The evening started by Zarin Hainsworth, our Chair (pictured here with her daughter) giving a brief review of work of RBAG - what has been achieved over the last year - including the setting up of the new water forum.

I said a few additional words the Treasurer gave a report and then we went staright to appointment of officers - Chair, Zarin Hainsworth, Secretary, Jo Botterill and me as Treasurer - I was delighted by this as I have been Secretary for over 4 years and with being so busy was doing a less good job - Jo has already been helping lots and will be great.

However that does mean I am now in charge of the dosh - I think we have all of £100 - anyway we then had the Water 21 student presentations followed by a preview of a new Aussie 'Land & Water Microbial' film - very exciting stuff that I mentioned briefly at one of our previous meetings - see here.

Report on Ruscombe Brook Action Group AGM for local press

The Ruscombe Brook Action Group (RBAG) formed in January 2005 to end the flooding at Puckshole and the repeated incidents of sewage getting into the Ruscombe brook. Since then the group has met monthly and learnt lots about water, sewage, biodiversity and more. We've worked with various agencies and seen some significant improvements: sewage pipes replaced, roots cut from inside pipes and a plan for further work.

Photos: These next two photos are of Downton Road (Brigend) - a lidar of the flood area showing how the road increases flooding - the second slide is ofe some of the solutions being considered.

We've also organised three seminars and held other public meetings, met with agencies to see improvements at The Lawns and Hamwell Leaze, initiated projects with University students and school children to look at water quality, produced information leaflets and much more.

At our AGM in Randwick Village Hall, Chair, Zarin Hainsworth, outlined work this year. It included a walk along the 2 mile brook to identify problems, one day digging out silt from near a culvert and one day removing a vast amount of rubbish including two sofas, a tent, waste bins and of course a shopping trolley. Apart from work to improve the sewage system we are also delighted to have finally got agreement and funding for a grill and clearing out of the culvert at Puckshole. This initial measure will reduce flooding of the lane but there are further improvements planned for the site. We're also producing information on how to reduce our water use.

Photos: the next three are re Slad showing where attenuation ponds could be, using the map and lidar and then a picture showing attenuation capabilities increasing when heavier rainfall

Another exciting development this year is Stroud Valleys Water Forum that RBAG helped set up with the four other water action groups in the area. We are together seeking a water management strategy in the Stroud area that will give greater protection from floods and drought.

At the AGM after Officers reports and elections, we heard from Adam Broadhead and Julian Jones from Water 21. They talked about how Stroud Valleys’ complex hydrogeology has been disrupted by artificial modification, urbanisation and intensification of agriculture. Infiltration zones such as fields and woodlands have been covered with paved, impermeable surfaces.

We also heard about specific problems at Brigend and what solutions might be possible, the work in the Slad Valley and more. The evening concluded with a DVD preview of work in Australia around soils and water. We are now looking forward to another year of improvements along the brook.

Philip Booth, Ruscombe Brook Action Group