Our Club sent a letter to the Environment Agency leadership team in 2018 requesting action to combat the rising levels of phosphates in the Hampshire Avon.

This rise in phosphates has been predominantly due to increased housing developments in the area. A lot more sewage water needs to be treated in the existing treatment plants whose infrastructure cannot cope anymore.

The new letter below is the continuation of the Club’s request for action as the phosphate levels in the river have now exceeded the permitted limits under the water framework directive and need urgent action by the Environment Agency.  

To: Emma Baker
Wessex Area Director, Environment Agency Rivers House,
Blandford, Dorset DT11 8ST
emma.baker@environment-agency.gov.uk
and to LegalSupport@environment-agency.gov.uk

Our ref: AT

Your ref: JS/NM/EA/02

From:
c/o Andreas Topintzis (General Manager)
The Cart Shed, New Bottom Lane Stratford sub Castle
Salisbury SP4 6AB
Tel 01722 321164
office@salisburydistrict.co.uk

Dear Emma,

Re:Environmental Crisis in the River Avon near Stonehenge

Regulation 29 The Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) (England) Regulations 2015

(“the Environmental Damage Regulations”)

Wessex Water Limited

I refer to the correspondence passing between the Club and the Agency in 2018 and 2019. In particular, I refer to the Club’s letter of 17th January 2019 and Mr. Nick Gupta’s reply dated 19th February 2019.

For ease of reference, I remind the Agency that the Club remained of the view that there was an imminent threat of deterioration to the river and asked for confirmation of the unequivocal assurance given by representatives of the Agency that if the Club’s prediction of the threat of deterioration occurred, the Agency would take immediate action to address this. The Club concluded its letter saying: –

“We look forward to hearing further with regard to the threat posed by additional phosphate […]