Hi guys

Soon to be finalised will be EA's new National Strategy.....as ever they are changing with the times as is expected of all organisations.

I wont go verbatim just yet....but would like opinion of ONE change I feel will effect us all in either a positive or negative manner.

The ENVIRONMENT Agency has had a traditional role in being the guardian of our waterways.......this will no longer be fully the case.

Inclusive of the word environment.....will now be ourselves.

Consideration will now be given to OUR environmental requirements on an equal basis to that of the waterways and its own ecology.
So everyone who sees that they have a right to better THEIR environment will have an input to the agency.

As an example :
Only recently there was a planning appeal for a hydro-scheme on the River Otter which was upheld. Setting precedence in that the scheme was more worthy to the people as whole than the protection of of our riverine habitat and its migratory and non migratory species.
Also importantly in this case...EA are FORCED to issue licence to increase the flows of the Otter to promote the scheme giving weight to the new regime of OUR sustainable environment.

Walkers,birders,canoeists......will all now be stakeholders.

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Two things to have in life - A good bed and a good pair of boots -and if you aren't in one you should be in t'other

Provoked a rise.

The Environment Agency's overarching guiding principles have always been to create a better place for people and the environment. So nothing new there. Whilst the Agency often finds itself in the position of advocating for 'nature' it must also balance the needs of people and communities.

Climate change is without question the most important long term risk faced by both people and our natural environment (as we currently know it). Is it therefore any wonder that the Agency chooses to support hydro schemes where they can be implemented with minimal impact on riverine character and habitat ?

M

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http://wanderingangler.blogspot.com/