Not sure if this is in the right section.....but here goes.
On a stretch of my local river i've noticed that the farmer has been removing large amounts of gravel from one particular area,so much so in fact, that it could ruin the pool that the gravel banks have created.
I was wondering if this is legal but can't seem to find anything about it.
Any info.greatly appreciated.

Try ringing the Planning department of the local council - ask for a Planning Officer, as receptionists have a habit of giving you 'opinions'.

Try the planning dept as said above.
You could also contact the EA - have a read here LINK

Mention "E C Habitat Directive" - it may help

Good luck
Brian

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“Let’s TACKLE Cancer” supporter

Thanks guys.

Just contacted the EA,so it will be interesting to see what,if anything,transpires.

You,ll find he,s not alowed to remove
gravel from the river

I believe you have to apply for permission to extract gravel as obviously it is a potential breeding ground for the fish that are in the river.

A farmer near Theale in Berkshire was fined a very significant sum for removing gravel from the lower Kennet. I think it comes under Section 4 of the Salmon & Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 which states that it is an offence to disturb spawning gravels. Check it out.

I know there is a section on Mineral Extraction in the national Planning Portal application process (now the accepted method of applying for planning permission by most) - I presume this covers what he's doing but would ring local Planners to confirm. They would then usually consult the Environment Agency for their input. He may have done this already and be legit, or might have just taken it on himself to do it without any consent.

At what point domestic / small scale agricultural crosses the line into not requiring permission and relying on other statutory / regulatory consents, will no doubt be the thing to pin down.

Simple point is who will stop him if he shouldn't be doing it - local Planning Enforcement / Police / other?

Whinging Pom's thread will highlight that best to get the stoppers on him ASAP some how or other - fining him strikes me of 'horse and bolted'.

I bet this happens more often than we realise.

The worrying thing is , the gravel being taken and where it is accessable is very often where the current and conditions are attractive for spawning.

We had a sad case in one of our rivers where a farmer was doing likewise under cover of darkness. Poor bloke was found the next morning drowned in his cab. The wheels of his jcb had gone into a pot hole and it had tipped over onto the side with the exit door.

What he was doing was wrong but not a nice way to go. Highlights the dangers of river work without proper consideration and planning.