Grassroots action is fundamental in driving change for our rivers. At River Action, our most significant successes have started from local communities taking a stand for their rivers. This is why we’re excited to introduce Friends of the Thames (FoTT), a new not-for-profit organisation dedicated to uniting communities along the Thames. From swimmers and citizen scientists to schools and campaigners, FoTT aims to bring together diverse voices, creating a unified movement to fight for cleaner rivers and hold Thames Water accountable.
Laura Reineke, a passionate swimmer, campaigner, and community coordinator, is leading this initiative. Her deep connection to the Thames and commitment to action make her the perfect person to head up this exciting new venture.
What is FoTT?
Friends of the Thames is a unifying force for the many groups, citizen scientists, and campaigners across the Thames catchment. From the Kennet to the Wandle and the Mole, there are already plenty of amazing initiatives in action. FoTT aims to be the link between these missions, aiming to create a supportive network that can amplify each other’s voices.
One of FoTT’s key tools will be an online map, highlighting groups across the Thames. This resource will offer a clearer picture of pollution throughout the catchment by compiling data from citizen scientists, the Environment Agency, and Thames Water themselves. By providing communities with this evidence, we aim to strengthen campaigns, advocacy efforts, and legal actions to better protect our river.
Why River Action Seed-Funded FoTT and How We Are Supporting It
Friends of the Thames aligns with River Action’s commitment to empowering communities to protect local rivers. After two years of taking action along the Thames—collecting data, working with communities, and creating impactful news stories—we were eager to assist in the creation of a unified voice for lasting change. As River Action’s Senior Communities Coordinator, I’ve been working closely with Laura to lay the foundations for FoTT. Our support extends beyond just initial funding; we’re actively helping to build key partnerships, raise awareness, and provide strategic guidance to ensure FoTT has the resources and momentum needed to make real long term impact.
What Excites Us About FoTT
The potential of FoTT to drive meaningful change is incredibly exciting. By uniting communities under one banner, we have real people power. One key initiative will be the creation of River Guardians, inspired by Paul Powlesland, founder of Lawyers for Nature and River Guardian for the Roding, who is now working alongside Laura to establish FoTT. These Guardians will serve as stewards for specific stretches of the Thames and its tributaries, deeply understanding the river, monitoring pollution, and championing their local waterways.
FoTT’s vision is deeply rooted in celebrating local action, and Laura’s passion and commitment ensure that this initiative will benefit both the communities it serves and the waterways they protect.
How to Get Involved
Are you passionate about the Thames or one of its tributaries? Whether you’re interested in citizen science, volunteering, or becoming a River Guardian, FoTT would love to hear from you. Stay updated with their campaign, connect with Laura, or explore ways to get involved by visiting their website or social media channels:
The campaign group River Action has been given permission to intervene in a claim made by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) challenging Herefordshire County Council’s stricter plans for the management of manure from livestock.
As part of its claim, the NFU argues that manure from intensive poultry units (IPUs) and other agricultural developments should not be classed as waste under the council’s plans – an argument which River Action has now been allowed to contest alongside the council.
The NFU’s claim challenges the council’s Minerals and Waste Local Plan (MWLP), which was adopted in March 2024 and sets out more stringent waste management requirements for agricultural developments such as IPUs to meet.
These requirements include stricter rules for the management of manure from livestock, as well as developments having to be ‘nutrient neutral’ in order to avoid causing pollution from excessive nutrients (such as phosphates) in soil.
Ground one of the NFU’s claim argues that the manure produced by agricultural developments like IPUs should not be classified as waste under its general definition in the Waste Framework Directive (WFD), meaning that it would not come under the scope of the council’s waste plans.
However, River Action has now been allowed to intervene and submit arguments opposing this ground. The group argues that livestock manure causes environmental harm and therefore should be categorised as waste as per the WFD – which includes substances that lead to adverse environmental impacts in its definitions for waste.
River Action has made submissions arguing that damaging algal blooms in the River Wye have arisen as a result of livestock manure causing excessive phosphates to build up in the soil, which then runs into waterways.
River Action also argues that it cannot be assumed that manure stored and then sold to a third party, which is common practice, will be used in an environmentally safe way. The charity argues that manure should be classified as waste at least until its point of use, and that controls need to be in place to ensure that waste producers take responsibility for disposing of waste in a lawful way.
Charles Watson, founder and chairman of River Action said:
“It is beyond preposterous that the tens of thousands of tons of animal excrement that spews each year out of Herefordshire’s intensive poultry factory farms is anything other than waste – and environmentally harmful waste at that. We feel that for the NFU to try and wriggle out of behaving responsibly and agreeing to cooperate with the county council’s plans to dispose of this waste in a sustainable manner is yet another lamentable example of the Big Agri lobby showing scarce regard to protecting the environment.”
Leigh Day environment team solicitor Ricardo Gama said:
“Herefordshire Council are trying to do the right thing by putting in place planning measures which would require agribusinesses to show that the waste produced by new developments such as industrial scale poultry units will be properly dealt with. It’s clear that action like that is needed because a September 2024 Environment Agency report found that even with 100% compliance with other regulatory and voluntary measures, there would only be a 34% reduction in diffuse pollution from agriculture to waterways.
“Our client is therefore pleased to be supporting Herefordshire Council in their defence of this claim. It’s not clear why the NFU are challenging the council’s plans given all they require is that agricultural developments show that they’ll be able to deal with any waste that they create.”
At least 15,000 people from across the UK have joined campaigners led by Chris Packham in the March for Clean Water.
Coordinated by River Action and supported by over 130 organisations—including the National Trust, RSPB, GMB Trade Union and Surfers Against Sewage, collectively representing more than 10 million supporters—protesters have urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to take immediate action to end pollution in Britain’s rivers, lakes, and seas, or risk the consequences of unmet promises.
Chris Packham said, “Today has proved that a lot of people are pissed off and sick of being shat upon by a water industry that has gone down the pan.
“It’s neither a mystery why this has happened nor how it needs fixing, but it needs fixing now and that means decisive governmental interventions must be made. Because delays mean death, the death of our precious ecosystems and all that beautiful wildlife that should be prospering in them.
“So, what is it going to take, because human fatalities are also a real possibility when our water is so polluted. And please be aware, this isn’t all about sewage, agricultural run-off is also a killer and must be properly regulated. Today we kicked up a stink, if politicians don’t listen, we will get a lot smellier.”
“Around 3/4 of our water companies; ownership is by foreign investors and companies and governments. So that’s where your money is going. By 2029 it is likely that bills will rise by another 50%. This must stop. It’s extortion put under a protected financial wrapper. I’m happy to march with thousands of people who think the same.
“What this march has done is bring together hundreds of groups of people in a huge Venn diagram where the key issues we all hold dear crossover. There is power in people coming together. I’m proud to march.”
Charles Watson, Chair of River Action, the organiser of the March for Clean Water,celebrated the diverse and inclusive nature of the March. He said, “This movement is unlike anything we’ve seen before. Families, communities, and organisations from across the UK have risen in outrage at the state of our rivers, lakes and seas. The Government’s first 100 days in power are up. The time for excuses is over. We’re here to hold the Government accountable to the election promises previously made and make sure they deliver on them to clean up our long-suffering waters once and for all.”
Nationwide demand for clean water Marchers—including naturalist Chris Packham, broadcaster and activist Carol Vorderman, actor and musician Johnny Flynn (Ripley on Netflix), actor Jim Murray (The Crown), Olympic champion rower Imogen Grant, bestselling author Robert Macfarlane, and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall—joined leading environmental, nature, fishing, water sports, and community organisations from across the nation to call on the government to:
End pollution for profit by greedy water companies and other industries which have poisoned our waters and exposed our communities to dangerous health risks. Starmer’s government must stand up against corporate and investor exploitation and prioritise clean water for everyone.
Tackle the other major polluter – intensive agriculture: This industry’s unchecked practices have led to ecocide, devastating our ecosystems and rivers like the Wye, with species on the brink of localised extinction. It’s time for stronger enforcement of regulations to police intensive agriculture to ensure sustainable practices and protect our rivers from further damage.
Reform environmental regulators: Our current regulatory system of environmental regulation has failed and must be reformed to ensure it is effective, accountable, and transparent. Regulators must have the funding, power and independence to hold all polluters to account, free from any pressure or influence that might compromise their duty to protect our environment.
Enforce existing laws: As a former Chief Prosecutor, Keir Starmer must demonstrate his commitment to abiding by the law of the land and to clean-up our waterways. Strict enforcement and significant financial penalties are key to creating a strong deterrent against illegal pollution. By ensuring these laws are not just in place but actively upheld, we can build a future where our waterways are truly protected.
London rally on Sunday 3 November to Save Britain’s polluted waterways
More than 130 of the UK’s most prominent environment, nature, fishing, water sports and community organisations, representing10.1 million supporters, will flood the streets of central London on November 3 for the March for Clean Water. The coalition calls on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to end the pollution of Britain’s rivers, lakes, and seas, or face the consequences of broken promises.
Nationwide demand for clean water
Environmental advocates, community leaders, and citizens from across the UK will march to call an end to the pollution caused by multiple sources, including water companies and intensive agriculture. Their asks of the new government are:
3) enforce the laws that exist to deter and punish illegal pollution.
Marchers will wear blue, symbolising the call for clean water
Campaigners remain deeply concerned that despite multiple commitments made during the recent General Election campaign to take resolute action to address the issue, they do not go nearly far enough to address the root causes of water pollution.
Most significantly, the measures that have been published in the Government’s planned Water (Special Measures) Bill do not address the chronic failure of regulation in recent years, whereby environmental laws and regulations have failed to be enforced by environmental protection agencies, allowing polluters to regularly break the law and poison our water bodies with impunity.
Meanwhile, while last week’s announcement by the Government of an independent Water Commission is a welcome step, it must ensure that the needs of the environment are fully considered and not sidelined by an apparent prioritisation of promoting economic growth. It must also address other major sources of pollution such as agriculture, which so far are conspicuous by their absence in the Commission’s terms of reference.
Join the fight against water pollution
Untreated sewage, agricultural runoff, and corporate negligence have pushed the UK’s rivers, seas, and lakes to ecological breaking point. The November 3 march represents a critical moment in the urgent quest for environmental justice, with families, activists, and communities demanding immediate government action to stop the rampant poisoning of Britain’s waterways.
Key speakers and performers
The march will feature voices from across the UK, including naturalist Chris Packham, broadcaster and campaigner Carol Vorderman, Olympic rowing champion Imogen Grant, nature presenter and President of the Wildlife Trusts Liz Bonnin, bestselling author Robert Macfarlane, and actor-musician Johnny Flynn, known most recently for his role in Ripley on Netflix.
Eleven-year-old Benjamin Fallow will address the crowd, representing the next generation’s call for urgent action on the water crisis. Alongside them stand grassroots environmental groups, anglers, swimmers, surfers, rowers, and a diverse array of clean water lovers, as well as water industry workers represented by the GMB Union (the biggest union in the water industry) disillusioned by the failure of their employers to manage the water industry responsibly.
Powerful symbols on the day
The march will feature striking visuals, including:
Poly the Whale, Truth About Plastic’s 7x2m sculpture made entirely from plastic waste collected from rivers and oceans, will be on display. Weighing 130kgs – the estimated amount of plastic that pollutes the ocean every second – Poly is a powerful reminder of the growing plastic crisis.
A 3m tall Goddess of the River Wye, evoking the spirit of the iconic river and the ecosystems at risk.
At least 40Extinction Rebellion drummers will energise and the inspire marchers. Participants are also invited to bring to London samples of water from their rivers, lakes and beaches – which will all be combined into a single vessel before being symbolically returned to the River Thames at the end of the march on the outgoing tide.
Voices of protest
Leading voices from the coalition urge the government to act:
Broadcaster and campaigner Carol Vorderman said, “I’m 63 and have never been on a protest before. This is my first ever march. That is how much the disgraceful privatised abuse of our water system matters to me. I can’t wait to add my voice to thousands on the day and share Carol’s Poolution by Numbers!”
Comedian and angler Paul Whitehouse, star of BBC’s hit-show Gone Fishing with Bob Mortimer, said, “Who likes dirty rivers? Not I. Lots of people love to use the rivers, waterways, and they’re under threat from agricultural pollution and from the water companies. So, there is a march taking place on Sunday, third of November – come and join.”
Star of The Crown on Netflix, Jim Murray, actor and activist angler, said, “The endangered Atlantic salmon is the pulse of our rivers and oceans, we must save the UK’s ‘black rhino’ from extinction.”
British businesswoman and star of Dragon’s Den Deborah Meaden said,“As a business leader deeply committed to sustainable investing and a passionate advocate for nature, it is clear that we must protect our precious waterways from pollution. No business should be allowed to profit at the expense of our rivers, seas, and lakes. It’s time for our elected leaders to take decisive action and restore our waterways to full health.”
Comedian Joe Lycett who made a television documentary about the terrible state of the UK’s sewage network (Channel 4’s Joe Lycett v Sewage) said, “Our rivers and seas are still, literally, shit. I fully support this brilliant campaign.”
Beccy Speight, RSPB chief executive, said:“The strength of public feeling is crystal clear, unlike our polluted rivers and waterways. An urgent, comprehensive and properly resourced response is long overdue.”
Hilary McGrady, Director General of the National Trust said,“Water is life. It’s fundamental to our health, our happiness, our heritage. But our rivers and waterways are in crisis. The public are outraged and want to see solutions.”
“Now’s the time for all leaders across all industries – from business to agriculture and of course politics – to step up their game and prove we can turn the tide on our polluted water. Sunday’s march is a crucial moment for change.”
Melissa Green, CEO of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes said:“The Women’s Institute proudly stands with the March for Clean Water, and WI members will be travelling from across the country to join forces on Sunday 3 November.
“We are a movement of women long known and respected for challenging the status quo and fighting for justice time and again. We are no strangers to campaigning to clean and protect our waterways – and the March for Clean Water is another chance to show our strength. We must ensure this opportunity is not wasted. Now is the time for bold, urgent action from the Government to deliver lasting solutions, and clean up our waters for people, wildlife and the environment.”
Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: “Polluted rivers are wounds in our landscape. They ought to be the lifeblood of UK ecosystems, nourishing communities and wildlife. Instead, they channel sewage, agricultural runoff and toxic chemicals through the countryside and cities to the sea. Healing rivers restores nature and builds a stronger society. That’s why so many people are gathering in support of tough action to make polluters pay, to stop pollution from every source, and to demand the urgent investment needed to clean up UK waters.”
Jamie Cook, CEO of Angling Trust said, “For over 75 years anglers have fought against pollution, this government must finally end the water pollution crisis before it’s too late.”
Hugo Tagholm, ocean activist and Executive Director of Oceana UK said, “Water companies have mismanaged their way to creating one of the greatest environmental stinks the UK has ever suffered. The sewage scandal has destroyed rivers, beaches, wildlife & livelihoods. Why give them a stay of execution with a review of the industry? Why not enforce the law in place to hold them to account, right now?”
Andy Prendergast, GMB National Secretary, said,“Water privatisation has been a disaster for everyone; sewage dumped in our beautiful waterways, billions of gallons lost to leaks every day and zero investment. Meanwhile fat cat directors and shareholders trouser millions of pounds. Water workers and bill payers are marching together to demand better.”
Giles Bristow, chief executive, Surfers Against Sewage said, “We’re marching because we’re sick of surfing in shit, it’s that simple. No more cover-ups, no more excuses, no more delays, we are here to reclaim our rivers, lakes and seas from the profiteering fat cats of the water industry and to demand an end to sewage pollution, for good. Keir Starmer, the pollution that stains the dirty money of the industry is a stain on the government too – we demand radical reform and you must deliver.”
Charles Watson, Chair of River Action, the organiser of the March for Clean Water, celebrated the diverse and inclusive nature of the March. He said, “This movement is unlike anything we’ve seen before. Families, communities, and organisations from across the UK are rising in outrage at the state of our rivers, lakes and seas. The Government’s first 100 days in power are up. The time for excuses is over. We’re here to hold the government accountable to the election promises previously made and make sure they deliver on them to clean up our long-suffering waterways for once and for all.”
This is not just a protest – it’s a movement
The March for Clean Water is a call to action for millions of people who care about the future of Britain’s waters. Join us on Sunday 3 November, wear blue, flood the streets and make your voice heard.
NOTES TO EDITOR
The March for Clean Water will be a legal, peaceful, family-friendly and inclusive demonstration. On Sunday 3 November, we will muster at Albert Embankment from 1100, and start marching at 1145. The rally will start in Parliament Square at 1330 and is due to finish by 1500.
More than 130 organisations have pledged their support for the march including the National Trust, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, Women’s Institute, Extinction Rebellion, WWF, GMB Union, Greenpeace, Angling Trust, Rivers Trust, Wildfish, British Rowing, Good Law Project, Ilkley River Action Group, Save Windermere, Activist Anglers, Save the Wye Coalition and Henley Mermaids.
River Action is an environmental charity on a mission to rescue Britain’s rivers from the deluge of pollution that has left the majority of our waterways in a severely degraded ecological condition. Our campaigns to date have focussed on tackling the severe environmental crises created by both sewage and agricultural pollution.
Estimated number of supporters per organisation in the March for Clean Water coalition:
Revealed: A new billboard made of £50 notes, stained brown with sewage waste, symbolises the dirty profits of water companies, while separately exposing that Thames Water has dumped sewage into the Thames for 7,002 hours since January 2024.
Today, River Action, organising the November 3rd March for Clean Water, is launching a bold new advertising billboard in central London that highlights the shocking reality of water companies making billions while polluting the UK’s rivers, lakes, and seas.
Dubbed the ‘Pooster,’ the 48 sheet (3m high x 6m wide) billboard, is constructed from fake £50 notes, stained brown with sterilised manure and mixed with water from polluted beaches, rivers and streams across the UK, symbolising the dirtied profits that water companies continue to make at the expense of our environment. The ‘Pooster’ displays a bold caption: “This money is stained with crap, just like water company profits’.
This striking visual dirty protest comes as part of River Action’s wider campaign against water pollution and will be officially launched with a crowd of wild swimmers fed up with dirty money making water dirty at 10am on Monday 21 October ahead of the March for Clean Water, set to take place in central London on November 3rd. The billboard displayed at the junction of Harleyford Road and South Lambeth Road close to Vauxhall Station is a high-traffic area of central London to draw maximum attention to the issue.
The ‘Pooster’ exposes the uncomfortable truth: despite dividend payouts to shareholders totalling £72.9 billion over the last 33 years and excessive levels of executive pay and bonuses, water companies across the UK are failing to protect our waterways.
River Action reveals extent of Thames Water discharges
Today River Action can reveal that since January 1 2024, Thames Water, the ‘pooster’ child of the nation’s broken water and sewage system, alone has discharged at least 7,002 hours of untreated human sewage into the River Thames, equal to 291 days. A large number of these discharges are believed to have been unlawful. The shocking findings from River Action’s research come at a time when Thames Water is facing financial collapse having paid out billions to shareholders and unknown amounts of interest on its escalating debts since privatisation – at the expense of future-proofing its crumbling infrastructure.
Meanwhile, as river users and wildlife suffer the consequences of poisoned water, Thames Water has continued to award failure with CEO compensation packages reaching up to £1.71 million last year alone.
“Up to their necks in it” – River Action’s campaigns manager Amy Fairman
Head of Campaigns at River Action Amy Fairman said, “Water companies like Thames Water are up to their necks in it, treating our rivers, seas and lakes like open sewers. Meanwhile they squander bill payers cash with impunity, splashing it on shareholder dividends, bonuses for their bosses and paying huge levels of interest on their junk-rated debt.
“Our ‘Pooster’ drives home the point: the financial gains they make are filthy money. It’s time for change. The UK public is fed up with sewage-drenched waterways and our campaign demands urgent reform.”
Laura Reineke from the Henley Mermaids is attending the Pooster launch with her fellow wild swimmers, in bathing costumes and hats. She said,“Our beautiful river Thames is being used as an open sewer, the epically mismanaged monopoly that is Thames Water is in charge of our precious blue space. This has to change! We are fed up with swimming in poo. Freshwater species are declining at a rate of five times that of species that live on land, our biodiversity needs rescuing. Our river is visibly poorly, choking in chemical’s and suffocating in poo. This assault on our wildlife and our health has to stop, water should be run for the benefit of humans and the wildlife that calls it home.”
March for Clean Water, Sunday 3rd November
With public outrage at an all-time high, River Action’s billboard exposes the urgent need for reform in the water industry.
The campaign builds momentum ahead of the March for Clean Water, where thousands of people, alongside more than 100 organisations as diverse as the Women’s Institute, Extinction Rebellion and the National Trust, will demand action from the government against water polluters. Marchers are encouraged to wear blue, symbolising their fight for clean water.
River Action and a coalition of 100s of campaign groups want to see the robust enforcement of existing environmental laws with hefty fines for illegal pollution, the end of pollution for profit with no more excessive shareholder dividends and executive pay and the resourcing and reforming the environmental regulators so they can do their job, putting public benefit before facilitating private greed.
For safety reasons, unlike the carelessness of the water companies, the ‘Pooster’ was made using sterilised waste diluted with water collected from rivers, beaches, and streams across the UK.
The source for the figure of 7,002 hours of discharges by Thames Water (taken from Faringdon in Oxfordshire to Dartford in Kent) so far in 2024 was calculated on 15/10/2024 using this: https://www.sewagemap.co.uk/
River Action is an environmental charity on a mission to rescue Britain’s rivers from the deluge of pollution that has left the majority of our waterways in a severely degraded ecological condition. Our campaigns to date have focussed on tackling the severe environmental crises created by both sewage and agricultural pollution.
The March for Clean Water will be a legal, peaceful, family-friendly and inclusive demonstration. On Sunday 3rd November, we will muster at Albert Embankment from 1100, and start marching at 1145. The rally will start in Parliament Square at 1330 and is due to finish by 1500.
To date, more than 100 organisations have pledged their support for the march including the National Trust, Women’s Institute, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, Extinction Rebellion, Greenpeace, Angling Trust, Wildfish, British Rowing, Good Law Project, Clean Ilkley River Group, Activist Anglers, Save the Wye Coalition and Henley Mermaids.
River Action board member Alison Caffyn has been granted permission by the High Court to challenge Shropshire Council’s approval of a large-scale poultry production unit in the River Severn catchment.
The judicial review aims to halt the further spread of industrial scale intensive poultry production both in the county and the wider catchment of the River Severn.
The legal action is part of a wider campaign by River Action to use the law to prevent river pollution by intensive agricultural practices across the country.
River Action says the Wye catchment area has been devastated by the failure to enforce anti-pollution regulations and it is determined to help prevent similar ecological damage to the neighbouring catchment of the River Severn.
The action is being taken by Dr Alison Caffyn, who lives in Shropshire and is a member of River Action’s advisory board. Dr Caffyn is represented by the environment team at law firm Leigh Day.
In May, Shropshire Council approved an application by LJ Cooke & Son for a poultry production unit at Felton Butler, north-west of Shrewsbury.
The unit would house 230,000 birds, with Dr Caffyn arguing it is imperative to prevent “giant clusters of polluting poultry units” from being built.
An application was made for a judicial review into the council’s decision, arguing the council failed to take a number of issues into account, including the effects of spreading manure and the emissions from burning biomass.
The High Court has now granted permission on the following grounds:
A failure to assess the effects of spreading manure and the emissions from burning biomass, which as indirect effects of the development, needed to be assessed
A failure to impose a lawful planning condition on manure processing that would mean that the development would not cause groundwater pollution
River Action plans to appeal the High Court’s decision not to allow the judicial review action also to be argued on the following grounds:
A failure to carry out a lawful appropriate assessment as required by the Habitats Regulations to ensure that the development would not adversely affect the integrity of a designated protected site
A breach of regulation 9(3) of the Habitats Regulations, which requires the council to take steps to avoid the deterioration of habitats at protected sites
Dr Caffyn and River Action say they consider Ground 3 the most important issue. It specifically concerns the potential for the development to adversely impact the integrity of designated protected sites, including Hencott Pool and Fenemere. The failure to properly assess these risks could lead to further deterioration of ecologically sensitive areas.
Charles Watson, Chairman and Founder of River Action said:
“Like an appalling car crash in slow motion, exactly the same set of tragic events is now unfolding in catchment of the River Severn as has happened recently in the neighbouring catchment of the River Wye. By recklessly waiving through permission for ever more giant intensive poultry units, Shropshire County Council is effectively pronouncing the death sentence on yet another iconic British river. The construction of these giant unsustainable pollution clusters, with no due consideration being given of their cumulative environmental impact, cannot be allowed to continue. We look forward to supporting this critical legal action through its next phase as it goes to court.”
Dr Alison Caffyn said:
“Shropshire Council has continued to grant planning permission for intensive poultry units across the county, despite increasing concern about the impacts on the Shropshire countryside and communities. The chicken population has grown so much that there are now nearly 65 chickens for every person in Shropshire. And it appears that the Council has not been properly assessing the impacts of all that extra manure and ammonia emissions on our rivers and special habitats. We need them to stop allowing ever more levels of unsustainable industrial agriculture in Shropshire.”
“The court’s decision to grant permission on two grounds is a crucial first step. However, the fact that permission was refused on Ground 3, which addresses the most pressing concern around protected sites, only strengthens our client’s resolve to see this fully challenged.
“So far, the approach adopted has allowed industrial concentrations of poultry and livestock to be reared in highly sensitive countryside locations, with devastating impacts on local ecosystems. Our client hopes that this legal challenge will set a strong precedent for local authorities nationwide, urging them to reassess the cumulative environmental impacts of developments like these. It’s clear there needs to be a complete rethink of how such planning decisions are made, especially where protected sites are at risk.”
ENDS
Notes to editor
For more information contact Leigh Day press office at pressoffice@leighday.co.uk or call Maxine Wolstenholme on 07775713725.
River Action is an environmental charity on a mission to rescue Britain’s rivers from the deluge of pollution that has left the majority of our waterways in a severely degraded ecological condition. Its campaigns to date have focused on tackling the severe environmental crises created by both sewage and agricultural pollution.
The March for Clean Water will be a legal, peaceful, family-friendly and inclusive demonstration. Timings will be confirmed in the run up to the event.To date, 100 organisations have pledged their support for the march including the National Trust, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, Extinction Rebellion, Greenpeace, Angling Trust, Wildfish, British Rowing, Good Law Project, Ilkley River Action Group, Activist Anglers, Save the Wye Coalition and Henley Mermaids.
In a powerful show of public outrage over the state of the UK’s waterways, convenors of the March for Clean Water have announced that the 100th organisation has officially pledged to join the rally, set for Sunday 3rd November in central London.
Mental Health Swims, the coalition’s 100th member, joins a diverse array of organisations – both large and small – from across the UK. Other organisations to recently sign up to join the March include smaller groups like The Blue Tits, The Marine Conservation Society, Friends of the Earth, East Kent Climate Action, the Outdoor Swimming Society, alongside larger organisations such as the National Trust, Greenpeace, RSPB, British Rowing and Wildlife Trusts.
Charles Watson, River Action’s chair and founder and co-convenor of the march, said, “This landmark achievement highlights the immense momentum, public anger, and frustration fuelling the march. Environmental charities, anglers, wild swimmers, members of the legal profession and high-profile campaigners such as Chris Packham, Paul Whitehouse,Jo Brand and Liz Bonnin are coming together to amplify the urgent call for action from Sir Keir Starmer’s government to put an end to the poisoning of our rivers, seas and lakes.”
Comedian Joe Lycett who made a television documentary about the terrible state of the UK’s sewage network (Channel 4’s Joe Lycett v Sewage) said, “Our rivers and seas are still, literally, shit. I fully support this brilliant campaign.”
Rachel Ashe (MBE), Managing Director & Founder of Mental Health Swims, said, “Mental Health Swims is proud to be part of the coalition for the March for Clean Water. Due to the water quality issues throughout the UK, we are having to cancel some of our mental health peer support swim groups to ensure that participants and volunteers do not get sick. It’s really disheartening for our volunteers and participants who have worked hard to build a support group in their local community that comes together over a love of outdoor swimming. We want to see the new government taking action to address the water pollution crisis.”
The March for Clean Water promises to be a vibrant, family-friendly demonstration that sends a clear message: the public will no longer tolerate politicians who talk tough on water pollution but fail to take meaningful action against human sewage and agricultural runoff in our rivers, seas, and lakes. Visit: marchforcleanwater.org
ENDS
Notes to editors Last weekthe March for Clean Water was rescheduled for Sunday 3rd November after the announcement of a far-right rally outside Downing Street on 26th October and the calling of left-wing counter protests.
The March for Clean Water will be a legal, peaceful, family-friendly and inclusive demonstration. Timings will be confirmed in the run up to the event.
To date, 100 organisations have pledged their support for the march including the National Trust, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, Extinction Rebellion, Greenpeace, Angling Trust, Wildfish, British Rowing, Good Law Project, Ilkley River Action Group, Activist Anglers, Save the Wye Coalition and Henley Mermaids.
River Action is an environmental charity on a mission to rescue Britain’s rivers from the deluge of pollution that has left the majority of our waterways in a severely degraded ecological condition. Our campaigns to date have focussed on tackling the severe environmental crises created by both sewage and agricultural pollution.
Due to a recently announced protest scheduled to take place in Central London on October 26th, the March for Clean Water will now be taking place on Sunday 3rd November.
Chair and Founder of River Action Charles Watson said, “Thousands of people and more than 90 charities, organisations and community groups have pledged their support to the family-friendly March for Clean Water. It promises to be a positive, loud and colourful demonstration of the public’s outrage at the dire state of the UK’s polluted rivers, seas and lakes. Join us on the streets of London on Sunday 3rd November to send a clear message to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer that the people of Great Britain will no longer tolerate the manner in which the making of dirty money has been allowed by the government to be prioritised at the expense of clean water.”
Melissa Green, CEO of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes said: “The Women’s Institute proudly stands with the March for Clean Water, and WI members will be travelling from across the country to join forces on Sunday 3rd November.
“We invite all our members who want to see decisive action to resolve the water crisis once and for all, to march alongside us. While we’re encouraged by the government’s response to our calls for a comprehensive review of the water system, we must ensure this opportunity is not wasted. Now is the time for bold, urgent action to deliver lasting solutions.”
Patrick Begg, Outdoors & Natural Resources Director at the National Trust said: “We are disappointed that the date of the march was forced to change, but remain fully supportive of this march which is now on Sunday 3rd November.
“Water is our most precious commodity, and we play fast and loose with it at our peril. Yet only 14 percent of rivers across England are in good ecological health, and severe droughts and floods have become more commonplace. Urgent action is needed.
“We urge the government to adopt a comprehensive source-to-sea water management strategy. This includes tackling pollution at its origin, whether from agriculture, industry or from sewage outflows. But is also means restoring peat bogs, creating more space for water in our landscapes, and reducing water waste – without which we won’t succeed in making our rivers healthier for both nature and people, or resilient in the face of a changing climate.”
Becky Malby, from the Ilkley Clean River Group, said, “At the March for Clean Water on 3rd November river users from across the nation will rally and send a unified message to the government of Sir Keir Starmer – we demand that you enforce existing environmental laws and prosecute the polluters responsible for the disgusting state of the UK’s rivers, seas and lakes.”
March for Clean Water, Central London on Sunday 3rd November
Thousands of people dismayed at the appalling state of Britain’s waterways will join the March for Clean Water in London on Sunday 3rd November. Groups as diverse as British Rowing, Extinction Rebellion, the National Trust and the Women’s Institute have backed the march.
Together they will send a clear message to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer: take immediate and decisive action to end the poisoning of our rivers, lakes and seas by the lethal cocktail of raw sewage, agricultural waste and other chemical pollutants, that over recent years have been allowed to leave most of our waterways so filthy that they present major risks to human health and untold damage to nature.
Notes to editors The March for Clean Water is on Sunday 3rd November. It will be a legal, peaceful, family-friendly and inclusive demonstration. Timings will be confirmed in the run up to the event.
River Action is an environmental charity on a mission to rescue Britain’s rivers from the deluge of pollution that has left the majority of our waterways in a severely degraded ecological condition. Our campaigns to date have focussed on tackling the severe environmental crises created by both sewage and agricultural pollution.
We’re thrilled to introduce Drew Richardson, our new Communities Coordinator, who will be joining our growing Communities Team at River Action. In our latest blog, we get to know more about Drew and the role that he will play to help rescue Britain’s rivers.
Q1. Tell us about yourself
Hello, my name’s Drew and I’ve just joined River Action’s Communities Team as a Community Coordinator. I studied Freshwater and Marine Biology at university before starting a career in the charity sector. I’ve worked for environmental charities, set up and managed York’s Volunteer Centre, secured over half a million pounds of investment into our local health and care system, and managed a squadron of Stormtroopers, an Ewok, and R2D2!
I live in Yorkshire and spend my free time renovating, volunteering, reading, and getting out into nature whenever I can.
Q2. How did you become interested in river protection?
I’ve always enjoyed wild swimming. Living in mid-Wales for 10 years I was lucky enough to have a local walk with a rarely trod path that allowed me to swim in a section of the Ystwyth between two waterfalls; it felt like my own hidden oasis. This love of the water led to my studying Freshwater and Marine Biology at University where I really started to learn about the dangers to our rivers. Having moved to Yorkshire a few years ago, I’ve become really aware of the lack of clean wild swimming spots and it feels like that escape, that ability to literally immerse myself in nature, has been cut off to me. I want to restore our rivers so everyone can enjoy the benefits that they bring again.
Q3. You have spent your career working in the third sector. What have you enjoyed most about in this sector and what have been its biggest challenges?
The thing I enjoy most about working in the charity sector is everyone you work with is passionate about what they do in a way that just isn’t comparable when you’re working for someone’s profits. I spend the majority of my waking life working, so I want to use that time to leave the world in a better state than it was, and work around people with the same ethos. The biggest challenges I’ve seen are the increasing demand on charities, a decrease in funding, and fatigue. We’re so exposed to all the woes of the world, and simply don’t have the capacity to be experts in every cause and fight every battle, so it can be overwhelming. I just try to focus on a few causes I can throw my whole self into, and trust that others will do the same for those fights I can’t champion.
Q4. You are also a trustee for the Charity, Time to be Out. Tell us more about the charity and the role you play to support their work.
Time To Be Out supports people who have had to flee from their own country because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. We support people throughout every stage of their claim in hopes that they can move on from past trauma and build a life as an openly LGBT+ person for the first time.
As a Trustee my role on the board is to make sure our charity is compliant with the law, that we use our resources for the most benefit, and that we tactfully navigate the current climate towards those seeking asylum. As a micro-charity with no staff though, I do get stuck in with operational responsibilities too, like checking in on our clients. Whilst we are small, we punch way above our weight, and were even awarded Small Charity of the Year 2023 Finalist at the Third Sector Awards.
Q5. Tell us about your new role as Communities Coordinator at River Action…what can we expect to see from your role in 2024 and beyond?
Initially I’ll be working with community groups to ensure all their voices are brought together in our upcoming March for Clean Water so that their local campaigns are highlighted at a national level. Soon we’ll be launching our River Rescue Kit to support local community groups to have the maximum impact, wherever they are in their journey. So I’m looking forward to helping groups to use that kit and see what exciting things they can achieve with it. As the Communities team has grown, I’m particularly looking forward to meeting and working with groups we might not have met or had much involvement with yet, especially in the north. I’m excited to see what we can achieve together.
Q6. Finally, in your opinion, what is further needed/what needs to change to rescue Britain’s rivers?
It’s such an exciting time to be joining River Action, with many new MPs being elected with local rivers in their manifestos, with rivers being mentioned in the King’s Speech, and river pollution being such a prominent part of the national discourse. It feels like there is a lot of potential for change, we just need to work to make sure that potential is realised. At the moment, water companies and the agriculture industry can get away with polluting our rivers; it’s cheaper and easier for them, so there is no motivation for them to change. We need that to change so polluting is just not worth the risk which means we need empowered regulators that can hold polluters to account effectively and that takes a change from the government. What we need to do is continue to support community groups with their local campaigns, and to collect data as citizen scientists, so we can keep the public informed, keep river health in the public consciousness, and show the government they have a mandate from the people they represent to make impactful change.
A coalition of the concerned are calling on everyone in the country angry at the state of water to join us to demand that our new government takes urgent action to address the UK’s alarming and dangerous water pollution crisis by marching through Central London on Sunday 3rd November.
The March for Clean Water, which is timed to mark the end of the first 100 days of the new government, when environmental campaigners will be watching closely for financial commitments to protect the environment, will involve scores of participating groups and well-known personalities, including river campaigner Feargal Sharkey.
They invite the public to join in one simple demand of Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer: to take immediate and decisive action to end the poisoning of our rivers,lakes and seas by the lethal cocktail of raw sewage, agricultural waste and other chemical pollutants, that over recent years have been allowed to leave most of our waterways so filthy that they present major risks to human health and untold damage to nature.
This must include:
a plan to address the continuous illegal dumping of raw sewage by the water companies;
a full set of solutions to end all other major sources of water pollution;
the reform of our failed regulatory system, including Ofwat and the Environment Agency, so the law can be effectively enforced against polluters
We urge everyone who cares about clean water to unite and march through central London to Parliament Square on Sunday 3rd November. The march is inclusive, accessible, step free and everyone is welcome to join. Marchers are encouraged to wear blue to symbolise clean water; to let their creativity run free and bring noise, placards, puppets, posters, banners, costumes, marching bands and musical instruments.
Whilst the introduction of a Water Bill in the King’s Speech on 17th July is welcome, the proposed initiatives revealed so far to improve water quality are not nearly extensive enough to address the scale of the UK’s water pollution crisis. It is therefore essential that this prospective legislation includes a comprehensive set of measures to end all causes of water pollution and to do so now.
The March for Clean Water is coordinated by River Action and Feargal Sharkey in close collaboration with Surfers Against Sewage and major charities and governing bodies including the Clean Water Sports Alliance, British Rowing, British Canoeing, Greenpeace, RSPB, The Women’s Institute, The Wildlife Trusts, Angling Trust, SOS Whitstable, Wildlife and Countryside Link, The Rivers Trust, Ilkley Clean River Group, Soil Association, Windrush Against Sewage Pollution and many local community groups from across the country.
Quote from River Campaigner Feargal Sharkey:
“We call on the Government to end the environmental devastation being inflicted upon our rivers, lakes and seas. It stops here, it stops today, it stops now. End pollution, end polluting for profit. Government must order an urgent root and branch review of the failed oversight and regulation of the water industry. It is now time to hold to account those industries that for too long now have been allowed to knowingly and wantonly pollute our waters driven by nothing more than profit and greed. We call on everyone in the country who is concerned or angry at the state of our waters to join us and march.”
Quote from Chair and Founder of River Action, Charles Watson:
“The initial noises coming out of our new government regarding cleaning up our filthy waterways, whilst encouraging, do not nearly go far enough to deal with the scale of the problem they have inherited. Nothing short of wholescale reform of our failed regulatory system and comprehensive strategies to address all major sources of pollution, including sewage discharges and agricultural run-off, will suffice. On the 3rd November the public will make this point very clear to Sir Keir Starmer in no uncertain terms.”
Background to the UK’s water pollution crisis can be found in this hard-hitting short film narrated by Stephen Fry.
For more information about attending the March for Clean Water visit marchforcleanwater.org
ENDS
For media interviews call Ian at River Action on 07377 547 362 or email media@riveractionuk.com
Notes to editors The March for Clean Water is on Sunday 3rd November. It will be a legal, peaceful, family-friendly and inclusive demonstration to send a simple message to the newly elected Labour Government: it is your job to end the poisoning of our rivers, lakes and seas. The march is planned to assemble at a central London location and will end at Parliament Square. Timings will be confirmed in the run up to the event.
River Action is an environmental charity on a mission to rescue Britain’s rivers from the deluge of pollution that has left the majority of our waterways in a severely degraded ecological condition. Our campaigns to date have focussed on tackling the severe environmental crises created by both sewage and agricultural pollution.
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