Quiz night tonight!

Update Tuesday: £340 raised!!!!!

The Star Inn in Whiteshill are hosting a Bangers & Mash Quiz, tonight, Monday 27 May for Ruscombe Brook. £5 pp Entry. Any Size Team. Quiz at 8.00pm - eat at half time.

Prizes down to Sixth Place.....See more about the Ruscombe Brook Action Group at: http://www.rbag.org.uk/

Quiz night at The Star in aid of Ruscombe Brook!!!!! Don't miss!

The Star Inn in Whiteshill are hosting a Bangers & Mash Quiz on Bank Holiday Monday 27 May for Ruscombe Brook. £5 pp Entry. Any Size Team. Do please click on poster left and help publicise this event. Quiz at 8.00pm b- maybe eat at half time.

Prizes down to Sixth Place  including Fly Casting Lesson for 2 (1hr dry-land casting lesson - equipment provided), Bird Box, Bottle of Wine, Homemade Cake, Cornish Knocker T’Shirts and Carling T’Shirts.

Ruscombe Brook Action Group members have been busy with questions and more - it should be a fun local event.....See more about the Ruscombe Brook Action Group at: http://www.rbag.org.uk/

Ruscombe Brook walk - part of Walking Festival

Lake along Ruscombe Brook

Before talking about the first Ruscombe Brook walk I wanted to mention the green spaces conference on April 15th with Stroud Festival of Nature - 15 places available for local community groups seeking to protect local green spaces. Full story is on Andy Read's blog here.

The Stroud Spring Walking Festival will see eight guided walks take place over nine days from April 13th. Each will start and finish at The Lake at The Lawn off Cainscross Road. A £120,000 Big Lottery restoration project was completed last June. The new Walking Festival is one of a series of events to celebrate the project and increase awareness of the site. See my film of The Lawns here.

On Sat 13th April at 1pm the first walk will be the opportunity for folk to be the first walkers to complete the new Cainscross Circular Walk. It is based on similar walks around Stroud and Whiteshill - the six mile route designed to follow the entire parish boundary as closely as possible. Two short walks explore the local history of Dudbridge and five local nature sites, whilst another follows the Ruscombe Brook from The Lawn to its source (see below). For the serious walker there is a 19-mile midweek marathon taking in seven valleys and six lakes. Beer lovers will enjoy An Ale Of A Walk on Friday 19th.

Thursday 18th April - The Ruscombe Brook to Doverow Hill - Start 10.30am at The Lawn.
The Lake at The Lawn is fed by the Ruscombe Brook. Few locals even know it exists. We follow this waterway as it enters the Canal to its very source high up in the Ruscombe Valley. We then pass through Standish Wood to Doverow Hill and back along the canal. Distance: 7 miles. Very steep in places.

All walks are free with no need to book. Download the programme here. More about the Festival at: http://stroudlandtrust.co.uk/

Programmes can also be collected from the Cainscross Parish Council Office, Westward Road; Stroud Town Council Office, London Road and Stroud Tourist Office in the Subscription Rooms.

More sewage leaks...

The Ruscombe Brook Action Group met recently to see best ways forward following the sewage leak near Humphrey's End. See more about the meeting at: http://www.rbag.org.uk/2013/03/rbag-meetsanother-sewage-incident.html

It was great to meet in The Star - and looks like we will have a quiz night there soon - so any prizes welcomed! More details soon!

Action groups meet: Ruscombe Valley and Ruscombe Brook

Back on Wednesday 16th January we had a meeting of the Ruscombe Valley Action Group and the Ruscombe Brook Action Group at the Whiteshill and Ruscombe Village Hall. About 25 people attended with 9 apologies. The evening started with two presentations and then went to discussions/actions. Here's a summary based on the minutes I put together and looks at the possible threat to the Ruscombe Valley.....

1. Ruscombe Brook Action Group. Philip Booth opened with a brief history of RBAG dating back to 2005. He considered how the group formed in response to threats of development in the valley and a series of sewage incidents that led to the brook being polluted. Photos of sewage were available to see! Then looked at the many actions the group have taken including a number of clear ups of silt and rubbish, 4 conferences, talks to schools, walks along the length of the brook to consider biodiversity issues, exhibitions, consultation meetings re Hamwell Leaze and The Lake at The Lawns, support to other action groups to establish locally, MSc students on placement testing the brook and working to get a new £13,000 grill installed to reduce flooding at Puckshole. In addition there have been many consultation meetings with Severn Trent and others to improve the sewers. Various works have taken place over the years but it has only just been in the last months that the problem sewers have been relined in the Ruscombe valley and along the Randwick tributary.

For a look at the first two years see:
http://www.rbag.org.uk/2009/07/blog-coming-soon.html

2. Ruscombe Valley Action Group. Rebecca Charley outlined the history of RVAG; it is now almost 8 years since the land in the Ruscombe Valley was advertised for sale. Gladwish Land Management bought the Land and put it up for sale as 184 individual plots. The Ruscombe Valley Action Group was formed, with the objective of maintaining the fields as agricultural land. Much work was done to protect the fields, develop cross-party support for no development there and challenge the practice of landbanking.

Some of the history can be found at: http://ruscombegreen.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/landbanking

Philip then gave some more background to the threats to development on the fields over the years. Some of that can be found at the link above. We are now at the point where locally the immediate threat (in terms of the Local Plan) to development on Randwick fields has been removed. The Planning Advisory Panel at the District Council debated the latest update. See Core Strategy Consultation details at: http://www.stroud.gov.uk/democracy/meeting.asp?meet_id=1487&com_id=PAP

Those draft papers (164 pages) reported an update on the consultations re the threats locally:

Point 0.71 re the Stroud Valleys notes agreement that 300-800 new homes in the Stroud valleys was about the right level of development. Specifically it is noted:

By far, the most commonly raised reservations related to the Preferred Strategy’s suggestion that some ‘edge of settlement’ greenfield sites might be used to supplement the development of brownfield sites in the valley bottoms. The consultation document specifically identified land at Callowell Farm and Grange Fields as possible options (Concept Diagram 1.1iii): there was almost complete consensus (amongst those respondents who specifically mentioned these sites) that these proposals should be omitted from the Plan. However, a small number of respondents did concede that Grange Fields in particular was a relatively sustainable location, close to the town centre.

There was vigorous opposition to any possibility of developing other such sites (including Rodborough Fields, and several sites in the Slad Valley and the Ruscombe valley), none of which were specifically proposed in the consultation document.

Next steps as I understand: This document was to inform Members, the public and stakeholders about key findings from the Preferred Strategy consultation. It provides a summary of the responses and is not an exhaustive itemisation of all representations. The report will help now inform decisions on the policy choices and direction in preparing a “Pre-Submission” Local Plan document. The Pre-Submission document will then face consultations - the final Local Plan will be refined taking into account those representations and will then be submitted and subjected to examination by an independent Inspector. The Inspector will consider whether the Plan is ‘Sound’ and will indicate whether it may be formally adopted as the key document within Stroud’s Local Development Framework. It is hoped the allocations will be agreed by councillors in the Spring.

There has been huge opposition to any development in the Ruscombe Valley and indeed to Callowell and I am hopeful that councillors will take that into account when looking at the plan. However there is much negotiation and discussion as councillors have strong views about development sites. For example if the site at Eastington/West of Stonehouse or another proposed site did not go ahead that would put pressure on to look at all sites again.

Lastly Philip noted the worrying development in Cam. The inspector approved on 11th January a potentially 71 home development at what is called 'Land Opposite 6 Box Road, Cam'. This is worse than "bad news"! The inspector, wrongly in my view, dismissed the council's claims to have a five year housing supply - this is of grave concern as it means that if we don't have allocations in place very soon it wont be democratically elected representatives, but rather government inspectors making the decisions. Already it can be a battle to fight developments even where there is virtually unanimous opposition; the government's moves will only make this worse. It is also in my view, shows the mess the government has made of planning with the NPPF; even it's own inspectors are openly disagreeing on what the district's housing supply should be! It seems to be 20% higher or lower depending on which inspector you get.

Poss useful info -
Frequently asked questions: it is from last year but most info still correct in view of SDC: www.stroud.gov.uk/info/plan_strat/faqs.pdf
Planning Strategy: http://www.stroud.gov.uk/docs/planning/planning_strategy.asp#s=sectioncontent3&p=newconsult

We discussed actions and ways forward - and there will be another meeting 12th March in The Star - contact me for details.

Ruscombe Valley: is it threatened by housing development?

Come and hear about what both the Ruscombe Valley Action Group and the Ruscombe Brook Action Group have been doing in the valley. What more is needed? The informal meeting will be at the Whiteshill and Ruscombe Village Hall at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 16th January 2013. It is free to anyone to attend. Do telephone me if you need further information 755451.

Ruscombe Brook Action Group's AGM 2012

Last week we had our AGM at The Carpenters Arms in Westrip - amongst much discussions about the ways forward we elected new officers....our new chair is Chris Uttley, secretary is Clive Buckley and our Treasurer is Geoff Hilton. It is the first time I don't have an official role in the group but will still be involved - no doubt updating the website and more.....

One of the key issues we discussed was the work by Severn Trent to reline sewers - we have been campaigning for this for many years - but in some of the fields the landowner has managed to negotiate protection for the land with mats - see the photos - in one of the other fields in the Randwick area there were concerns by the group members about the damage done by heavy equipment.

Another issue was a Rural SuDS scheme being considered for the Frome catchment. There is a possible scoping exercise which would produce a report in March 2013. It is difficult to assess as their were not details but the group gave unanimous support to explore the possibilities. We, like others in the area, have been very frustrated by the lack of progress towards improvements. How long ago was the Slad flooding homes and businesses?!!!

We are aware of some of the reasons for delays, but things must move forward. This SuDS approach sounds promising and while it wont be a guarantee against flooding it should improve the situation considerably. We made a number of comments to the EA including around consultation over any work.

RBAG are also exploring ways forward to improve biodiversity - we have an issue that we are working on that will hopefully improve water quality....but at our next meeting we hope also to talk more about how we can add weight to objections to any proposals for development on the Ruscombe fields - at our meeting in January we are hoping to book Whiteshill Village Hall and explore the issue in more depth with the Ruscombe Valley Action Group.

Stroud springs.....

Walk along brook

Now here is an interesting new blog that looks at Stroud's springs. In the Ruscombe Brook Action Group (RBAG) the issue of springs has come up a few times as they have moved or ebbed and flowed over the years.....this idea to map them is very interesting and I will keep an eye on it.
Meanwhile at RBAG we are due for our AGM soon - 6th November - do let us know if you are interested and I can send details.

Here's what Stuart Butler writes to me and in the Rodborough Commoner about the spring project: "I can’t say that I am obsessed with springs; I don’t normally give them a second thought…but something has happened to me below the spring-line over the past few months. It all started when I went to the Writing Britain Exhibition at the British Library and started reflecting on how landscape has affected history, as well as literature. This doesn’t sound any big deal, but I have always been interested in social history and if asked about the genius loci of Stroud, then I would normally mumble something about handloom weavers or Chartists or Quakers or Non-Conformism etc. Geology and all that wouldn’t get a look in.

"But this exhibition made me think about the ultimate genius loci of Stroud and that got me thinking about springs. I am, even whilst I write, involved in the setting up of a website to map as many of our local springs as possible. The website will record multi-media representations of our springs; recollections of our springs; walks to and around our springs; metaphysical musing about springs etc. When this is done – ha! – we will move on to mapping the radical history and heritage of Stroud. But not before we hold a multi-media exhibition about our local springs, complete with pop-up restaurant."

See: http://radicalstroud.blogspot.co.uk/

Ruscombe Brook update

The Ruscombe Brook Action Group met again yesterday evening to see what can be done re a problem re poaching by cattle, the run-off pipe from Wheelers Walk and the Puckshole culvert already starting to silt again (see photos by local resident left).....

I wont go into the details here but we will meet again in September where we hope to have replies to some letters and more. It is also poss we will have a working party to shift silt or cut back vegetation in the Autumn - anyone interested do let us know.....

Meanwhile the fences along the fields in the Ruscombe Valley put up by Severn Trent while they relined the sewer are to be removed in the next days....cattle then will be able to graze the land there....Severn Trent meanwhile will at some point be starting work on the sewers alongside the Randwick tributary.

Other news is that the brook has caused a few challenges to the canal development...the brook goes into the canal after the Lake at the Lawns.

Here is what the Council news says: 'Dudbridge Locks: An interesting problem occurred here! Contractors digging the channel for the hydro-electric scheme broke into the old culvert carrying Ruscombe Brook in a siphon under the canal. The result was that the site was immediately flooded! The culvert was blocked in the late 1950s when the brook was diverted into the canal. Investigation revealed that river water being carried in the canal was leaking through the bottom of Dudbridge Upper Lock into the culvert. The culvert has now been blocked, but the lock bottom still needs to be repaired, beginning this week. This will involve over-pumping the river flow. Work can then continue with the hydro pipe and bypass channel. Meanwhile, the concrete base has been poured for the turbine chamber.'

Lake at The Lawns party film

Here are some film clips from the Victorian party which I've put together - it includes stuff about the restoration and history of the site - as folk know the Lake is where the Ruscombe brook flows before going into canal:
http://stroudcommunity.tv/the-lake-at-the-lawns-party-history-and-renovation-3rd-june-2012/     

Flooding and insurance meet in Stroud; over 800 properties at risk?!

Click on poster to see

Judy Gibson (Community Flood Consultant) and Mary Dhonau OBE former CEO of The National Flood Forum and Chair of Know Your Flood Risk in the Stroud area joined the last Stroud Valleys Water Forum meeting. As noted in my write up of that, a meeting was planned for this Thursday.

It is not quite what we had hoped in terms of tackling the causes of flooding but nevertheless it is v important. Basically Mary and Judy have been contracted by The Environment Agency to undertake a community engagement project in the Stroud Area. The main brief was to promote the take up of the new Flood Defence Warning system that now specifically covers property at risk of flooding on the River Frome. They have focussed on properties and businesses in the Stroud Valleys, Stonehouse, Bridgend and Dudbridge - indeed I understand they have door-knocked and spoken to hundreds of property owners. How many properties at risk is an issue I will cover in a mo...

It has been said that with its steep sided valleys and shallow culverts if the same volume of rain fell on Stroud as it did on Tewkesbury/Worcs in 2007, the results could be very bad indeed - one commentator suggesting 'as bad as Boscastle perhaps'. There is often some indifference to a threat if you have never suffered its effects in the past, but Judy noted that on the whole people were quite positive and many have signed up to the Flood Warning Service.

Mary and Judy note that the biggest concern that homeowners expressed was the the large rise in their household insurance premiums on properties which in 90% of cases have never suffered any floods in the past. This is an issue that the Local Government Association has also picked up on as the agreement between government and insurance companies is due to expire in June next year. The LGA wants to see longterm availability and affordability of flood insurance, the most accurate data re floods used and for insurance companies to take into account all resilience measures taken.

The Association of British Insurers warned earlier this year that up to 200,000 homes in England and Wales will struggle to obtain adequate flood insurance next year. See more in Guardian this week here.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) say over 800 properties are at risk of flooding (ie: 1 in 75yr threat) in the Stroud area. It is a mystery as to why the EA state that the number of properties at risk is closer to 400! What is going on? Well Judy has written to Neil Carmichael for an answer.

Amazingly it seems Insurance Companies all use different flood mapping companies in order to assess different areas risk and they refuse to disclose their figures as quote "to do so would be anti-competetive". This leads to considerable inaccuracies as many have experienced locally. People who have been flooded have lower premiums to neighbours who have never been flooded. Why can't we have a generic database containing the flooding history of individual properties? Some might cry it is anti-competitive - but at the moment whole streets and even towns can be grouped into 'A High Flood Risk Area' and then people charged highly inflated premiums.

As one commentator said: "Persecuting individuals and communities based on unpublished and flawed evidence which is not open to public scrutiny and to which they have no right of reply is at least outright discrimination and at worst downright illegal!"

 Big thanks to Judy and Mary for getting this issue on the agenda locally.

Ruscombe and Randwick springs run dry

Some rivers are currently lower than the 1976 drought - springs have dried up in Ruscombe and Randwick - something that is not known in the lifetimes of people locally. Water flows are very low on the brook itself - local farmers that have contacted me are very concerned. How will cattle manage? Will this mean troughs will be needed in all fields? The Telegraph reported last week farmers already being affected by drought and the impact this will have on food prices - see here.

Severn Trent has been contacted - little joy apparently from them - although it really is an EA issue. It is the EA that has responsibility for water resources and they should be the farmers’ first port of call. But again no replies.....Neil Carmichael has also been written to but no answers yet...

The odd thing about this drought is how patchy it is - some areas are near to average for this time of the year and in others well below what we would expect. Of course history is against us - when many of our water resources were developed the population was half what it is today and used half the volume of water per head we use today. Mix that difference in with nearly the last two years of dryer weather than usual and the water table will start to be affected. As climate change really takes hold these events will be more common......Anyway it is an issue that the Stroud Valleys Water Forum will I hope also raise with the EA.

See Daily Mail about drought in South East where Southern Water has already applied for a drought permit - it includes video: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2103809/UK-drought-2012-Water-companies-say-mustnt-spend-FOUR-minutes-shower.html

Flood 'stars' Mary Dhonau and Judy Gibson visit - best ways of community disaster planning?

Judy Gibson and Mary Dhonau

Last week we had a meeting of the Stroud Valleys Water Forum - as many will know this was a group I helped found to bring together the flood and water action groups in the Stroud valleys - well we've been going for about three years and we have decided to formalise the group with a constitution - that was part of the meeting but the other part we had guests Mary Dhonau and Judy Gibson talking about the EA flood awareness scheme.

Well it was great to meet these two 'stars' of the flood world - both were full of enthusiasm and passion to make a difference - Mary Dhonau has been flooded 12 times and has an approach of  developing a blue print for best practice for communities to 'work with' rather than 'against' those who manage flood risk - she believes in managing the flood waters rather than trying to resist them....see more at: http://www.marydhonau.co.uk/about-us 

Judy Gibson who has, like Mary, appeared lots on TV and radio has also been a flood campaigner for years - see more about her home here. 

Anyway it looks like we are planning a day about flooding on Thursday 8th March 3ish to 8.30 at the Sub Rooms - still much to be planned but the idea will be to have speakers and info for folk to drop in on plus an evening which we will share more about hopes for the Five Valleys - in particular we are hoping the County will be able to support the event and explore how we can use natural processes to tackle flood issues. More about all that soon. UPDATE: sadly it looks like the day will only now be about emergency planning without an evening event - the natural processes will be considered later in the year.

The day will also look at community emergency planning - Parish and Town Councils have a role here - and also communities can act - but quite often communities don't act unless their is a clear reason - many see risks of flooding, fire or other big disaster as too small so don't plan....and there is also the issue of who keeps a plan up to date? Well it will be good to explore more about what is possible but I am skeptical about the value of some of the plans and am interested to see which way is best to go....

An interesting article here looks at what was learnt by some following the impact of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and other disasters around the world. In times of disasters neighbours help one another - ambulances and firetrucks and government aid are not the principal ways most people survive during — and recover after — a disaster. Governments were good for getting the power back on but it is the personal ties among members of a community that determine survival during a disaster, and recovery in its aftermath.


"Really, at the end of the day, the people who will save you, and the people who will help you, they're usually neighbors." Daniel Aldrich

Indeed the conclusion is that instead of practicing earthquake drills and building bunkers, we could get more involved in neighborhood events and reach out and make more friends among our co-workers and neighbours. So how does this fit with community planning? Well we'll see!

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.

Inspiring: work of the Severn Rivers Trust

Last week the Stroud Valleys Water Forum, which I initiated as a way to bring the local flood and brook action groups together, organised the Severn Rivers Trust to join our bi-monthly meeting. Although we are in the Severn catchment we had never met up with them before - partly they are based around the main areas of work so the Frome hasn't had such a look in and partly our lack of knowledge about them - they have also grown very rapidly in the last couple of years.

Anyhow Tony Bostcock, a Director of the Trust, joined us and gave a totally inspiring talk about their activities. We also look set to tap into their knowledge and access to funds to improve habitat locally. The Severn River Trust is one of some 70 river trusts and looks to turnover £500,000 this year trying to address issues like the massive soil erosion and restore many species like eels - we learnt that the 354km river has a 11,000 plus sq km catchment and have many projects the length of it - for example they are looking at attenuation at the head of the river in Wales where the land is being returned to being a sponge.


So what next?

We agreed that Tony would join us for to walk a stretch of one of our waterways to see how interesting they are, and undertake a survey on wildlife etc to see about possibilities - in so doing he will show us how to do these surveys so we can begin to map all the rivers around us from that sort of perspective.

We are delighted he expressed an interest in becoming involved with the Frome - but we need to give him some info first. It was agreed that a section of the Painswick stream was probably best for the walk, and that we would try and do it soon on a Sunday. Anyone want to join us?

We meet again in two weeks to discuss whether to formalise the Stroud Valleys Water Forum into some structure - not sure it is necessary at the moment especially as individual groups have structures - The Ruscombe Brook Action Group even has a formal partnership agreement with local Councils and other bodies. Anyway let's see what the discussion brings...

Sewer repairs underway near Ruscombe Brook

The SNJ will report tomorrow news re the relining of our sewer - I've copied it below. I was generous in my quote with Severn Trent as at times it has been quite a battle to get things done - and as noted on this blog before, we, in the Ruscombe Brook Action Group, are not wholly convinced that relining is the answer. Indeed at one point in earlier meetings with STW they had said the sewer capacity was insufficient and it needed changing. Apparently remodelling shows relining will be sufficient - let's hope so - and as I said in the quote STW have on the whole tried to work with us.

Sewer repairs underway near Ruscombe Brook

SEVERN Trent has this week started works to repair and strengthen a stretch of sewer near Ruscombe Brook to reduce the risk of sewage flooding into the watercourse. Over the years the sewer which runs near to the brook has become infested with tree roots - cracking the pipework and allowing sewage to escape from the system.

Fine roots seek out small cracks in the sewer and push their way into the network where they can grow into a major problem. The most efficient and least intrusive way of resolving the problem is to remotely cut back the roots in the pipework then add a new lining in the sewer - sealing the cracks and preventing roots from pushing their way into the network.

The lining is specially strengthened to prevent further root intrusion for the next 100 years. Work is expected to continue on site until mid October.

Mark Broomfield, programme engineer for Severn Trent, said: "We know that Ruscombe Brook and the wildlife that depends on it is important to the community. Our aim is to ensure water quality in the brook remains high, while causing minimum disruption to residents. Even though there will be no road closures and customers will be able to continue to use the system as normal while work is going on, residents will notice more vehicles in the area. "If anyone has questions or concerns about the work that needs to be done they can contact Severn Trent on 0800 783 4444."

Philip Booth, a spokesman for the Ruscombe Brook Action Group, that was formed over five years ago in response to incidents of sewage seeping into the brook, added: "We are delighted that sections of the sewer are at last being relined. We welcome these moves by Severn Trent and their willingness to find solutions to the problems faced here. We look forward to further work in the future to continue to improve the outdated sewage system and at present we are also working on ways to further improve the biodiversity of the brook."

Update on Ruscombe Valley Action Group

Threatened fields

The Ruscombe Valley Action Group (RVAG) was set up in response to the appalling land banking that took place several years ago now (click on label below to learn more).  The Parish responded immediately by monitoring the site, objecting to any planning applications and working with Stroud District Council to get an Article 4 notice put on the land to prevent any activity taking place without planning consent. 

As the Parish Council have said we need to maintain vigilance on these fields in our valley, particularly with planning constraints potentially being relaxed. If you see anything odd please do notify the parish clerk.

As reported in the WaRbler, when we first established the group a number of people and the Parish Council gave money to us to enable actions to be taken. In the intervening time three of the four signatories of the account that was set up have moved from the village, so it was thought prudent to transfer the remaining amount, just over £240, to a designated account held by the Parish Council.  This will safeguard its accessibility and the ability of the parish to still make use of the donations for the purpose they were originally given.

Ruscombe Valley Action Group can still be convened if anything untoward should occur. The Ruscombe Brook Action Group also continue to do regular walks to check on the land.

Stroud Valleys Water Forum

This Thursday the Forum met at Ebley Mill and we had feedback from all the local action groups, my recent visit to Wessex Water, stuff on River Trusts (see below), Brigend's on-going challenges re flood measures proposed there for householders and we also had a presentation from Water 21 and a lengthy discussion re Slad where the EA have pulled out funding flood measures they had promised. We also heard about the hydro scheme at Dudbridge - see previous blog here - more support needed to make it happen.

Well I can't cover all that so a little on Slad and River Trusts as I have a busy day ahead....

Photo: Hydro scheme with fish route

Slad brook

The EA are offering Individual Flood Protection measures - see here - but I understand only 8 households have taken them up out of 83 threatened with flooding. I fear the EA are looking at individual measures because it is the easy option whereas attenuation up the valley could potentially reduced flooding very significantly. The EA have not ruled out flood alleviation but have reduced the £3m to £500,000 of which they say they have already spent a large sum on consultation etc. I have to say the grounds do not seem to stack up for reducing the money - a long hard look at the figures is needed and how the decisions have been made - we hope to have the EA to our next meeting - they have attended in the past and it would be great to get an update as this all seems to be going on a long time since the 2007 floods! The good news is that legislation means community groups views have to be taken into account.

River Trusts

Well this charitable group looks to get the best for our rivers - see their website here: http://www.associationofriverstrusts.org.uk/about/art_history_objectives.htm

We heard from one of our new members who told us a little about how the Trusts work. The Severn already has a Trust so we hope to invite them up as it maybe poss to join them? Or would it be better to have one for the Frome catchment? Then again maybe we have not got the resources to follow that route? It needs some exploring but would have the potential to bring in more resources and hopefully get better decisions made locally.

Water extraction damaging rivers

Frome near Stonehouse

The Independent on Sunday had an article noting a study says extraction from our rivers by water companies is causing harm; "causing environmental damage, death to wildlife and the build-up of chemicals that upset fragile aquatic ecosystems". Even before the dry spring demands have caused water levels to drop. Indeed a year ago I raised this issue on this blog - see here.

The report by by Dr Simon Less, a former director of Ofwat, says that current abstraction by firms from rivers and groundwater sources is so high that it would take the equivalent of 23 million people to stop using water every day to get back to environmentally sustainable levels. Without action current practices will cause "serious damage to river and wetland ecologies". Only 15 per cent of the country's river network is in a condition to support a "healthy ecosystem".

A White Paper to be published in November is expected to propose smart metering in homes. Of course more charges for abstraction could mean higher bills for consumers. Already average water bills are set to rise by around 4.6 per cent to £356 this year. Click on read more to see more incl recent Green party news release re low income households and water.

Ruscombe brook: walk highlights action areas

Just over a month ago the Ruscombe Brook Action Group walked the top half of the brook. We gained permission from the relevant landowners as we do each year to check out problems, improvements etc. It was a great evening where I learnt lots.

Last year we walked with FWAG - that's the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group and it is the UK's leading independent provider of environmental advice to farmers - see that walk here. This time we had a new group member who works with water and conservation - he was able to add to the advice and info we had gained last year.

Photos from walk in May of the top half of the brook.

On Tuesday this week we met again to discuss what we found on the walk and our next steps. We have drawn up a list of 4 target issues to consider further. It is good to have some renewed enthusiasm and focus for the group as we have drifted a bit over the last 6 months.

Also good news is that the relining of sewers is imminent. Severn Trent have contacted several local landowners and will soon be giving dates to start. It has only taken us since 2006 to get this to happen!!

Having said that the yearly root cutting of roots that have grown into sewers has led to almost no raw sewage incidents - what a difference from 2005/6 when there were some 20 plus incidents.

You can read more about our project at:
http://www.rbag.org.uk/

Or for even more click on the Ruscombe brook label below.