Water-related meetings!

Cattle poaching in summer on Ruscombe Brook

I have had a number of water-related meetings recently - Wessex Water in Bath as the rep of SDC (more on that when I get a mo) and a Ruscombe Brook Action Group meeting in Puckshole where we were updated on the sewer relining - some difficulties there with contractors which we are looking into but good news that the sewer along Randwick tributary now looks set to get a reline as well. One issue that has caused concerns along parts of the brook was cattle poaching - it has been very bad this last year and it seems part of the reason is the very low water flows in the streams. One landowner is now looking to put in water tanks for the cattle and protect part of the stream with fencing.

We also discussed our role within the Stroud Valleys Water Forum - which has met twice in the last month - once re the Severn Rivers Trust and more recently to discuss whether to formalise our group into more of a constitution. We managed to find a way forward in the SVWF group - since our first meeting that I initiated back in Feb 2009 we have met every couple of month. Slad, Brigend, Ruscombe and Painswick groups have all been represented with other individuals also joining and we've had MPs, EA, GCC and many different groups attend. The focus is around what action or change we can create to get the whole catchment seen as one but also support to each of the group to achieve change. We now plan to open the group to wider membership - but more of all that in the future...

Locally-based Water 21 who have been advisors to the group have an article in a magazine recently - see it here - it shows how we need to look at this issue much wider - in this last year we have already seen considerable pressures growing re water like the impact of cattle poaching.Indeed water companies are already concerned about next year - see Guardian here.