Lobby an MP time.....

....alternatively just bung 'em a few quid and they'll do the biz.



… MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA


Dear [Your MP],

I am a resident of [Your town] I am writing to you to highlight my concerns about the River [your river].

I am a supporter of the Our Rivers campaign (Homepage - Our Rivers), which is a partnership between the Angling Trust, Association of Rivers Trust, RSPB and the WWF. The campaign aims to utilise knowledge held by local rivers groups to ensure that European Requirements to bring about a better water environment are achieved. I have adopted my local river on the Our Rivers website and would like you to adopt the River [insert name of your river] too, joining a growing number of MPs, who are standing up for their local rivers.

[If you like, you can describe issues and suggested actions here].

However given the high level overview presented in the River Basin Management Plans it is currently unclear how concerns about individual rivers will be incorporated into the revised plans. Even though they are strategic documents, their purpose is to improve individual rivers. Therefore, it is clear that the information I have provided should be given full consideration.

The River Basin Plans were sent for ministerial approval on the 22nd of September and will be published on the 22nd of December.

I feel strongly that the plans should not be finalised unless the following commitments are made and I urge you to inform the Rt. Hon. Hilary Benn about our concerns:

I recommend that:

• Wherever possible, information quantified by waterbody, on what the pressures are causing problems and who is responsible for polluting waters should be clearly shown in the main plan documents. The plans should also highlight the actions being taken to address this pollution.

Because:

• I have concerns about the main draft River Basin Plan documents. While I welcome the actions being brought forward by Water Companies, I am concerned that agriculture and other sectors, such as local authorities, are not doing enough to address the impacts they are having on the water environment.

• I am also very concerned that many actions necessary, including [If you like describe measures to address problems here], to improve our rivers will be delayed or ignored because there is currently uncertainty about the funding available for them. If these actions are necessary to achieve improvements to rivers (to achieve Good Ecological Status) then these should be included in the final plans and work should be ongoing to secure funding for them at a later date.


I would welcome the opportunity to meet and discuss these issues with you in detail.

Yours Sincerely,