Watford mayor discusses Rediscovering the River Colne Project

For many years the Liberal Democrats have been highlighting the severe damage this is doing to our environment. The Government’s plan to tackle raw sewage gives the water companies until 2035 to reduce the amount of pollution flowing into bathing water and areas of ecological importance. Under this plan, these damaging discharges can continue until 2050.

Sir Ed Davey MP, leader of the Lib Dems, believes this should be declared a national environmental emergency so that the issue is tackled with far greater urgency. His party is proposing a sewage tax on the £2.2 billion in annual profits that the water companies are making. They want to force the water companies to clean up their own mess and stop dumping sewage in our water.

Peter Taylor, the Liberal Democrats Parlimaentary candidate for Watford Ian Stotesbury and Sir Ed Davey

Locally, Lib Dem-run Watford Council is leading a ten-year project to clean up the River Colne. The Rediscovering the River Colne Project involves local residents and many groups, working together to increase the biodiversity of the river and make it easier for people to access this important natural corridor.

In the current phase of this project improvements are being made to the river banks to create more healthy habitats for plants, animals, birds and insects. We’re inserting stakes at the edge of the river that vary the river flow so that sediment doesn’t build up – if there’s too much sediment then fish can’t spawn.

This project will improve the overall health of the river, enhance water quality, increase biodiversity and offer refuges to various species.

There is lots of information about this exciting project and details about how to get involved at www.rivercolnewatford.co.uk.

• Peter Taylor is the elected mayor of Watford